Skip to main content

Full text of "Hans Breitmann's barty and other ballads"

See other formats 


HANS  BR 

BALLADS 


ROWLANDS'  MACASSAR  OIL 

Preserve*  and  beautifies  the  hair;  it  contains  no  lead  or  mineral  ingredients, 
and  can  be  also  had  in  a  golden  colour  for  fair-haired  children. 

ROWLANDS' 
0D0NT0 

is  the  best,  purest,  and  most  fragrant  -tooth 
\  powder ;  whitens  the  teeth,  prevents  decay, 
and  strengthens  the  gums;    contains  no 
acid  or  gritty  substances. 

ROWLANDS' 
KALYDOR 

is  a  cooling,  healing,  and  refreshing  wash 
for  the  face  and  arms ;  it  disperses  freckles, 
tan,  redness,  pimples,  and  produces  a 
beautiful  complexion. 

ROWLANDS'  EUKONIA 

is  a  pure  and  fragrant  toilet  powder.    Sold  in  three  tints,  white,  rose,  and 

cream.    Ask  any  Chemist  or  Hairdresser  for  Bowlands'  articles,  of  20,  Hatton 

Garden,  London,  and  avoid  spurious  imitations. 

BELIEF     FROM     COUGH     IN     TEN     JEoTPTEs! 

HAYMAN'S  BALSAM  OF  HOREHOUND. 

The  most  certain  and  speedy  remedy  for  Coughs,  Colds.  Hoarseness,  and 
all  disorders  of  the  Chest  and  Lungs.  It  has  proved  itself  the  moat  successful 
preparation  ever  offered.  The  sale  is  increasing  daily.  IT  HAS  A  MOST 
PLEASANT  TASTE.  In  the  nursery  it  is  invaluable,  as  children  are  fond 
of  it.  Immediately  it  is  taken  coughing  ceases,  restlessness  is  gone,  and 
refreshing  sleep  ensues.  No  lady  who  has  once  tried  it  would  ever  afterwards 
be  without  it.    Prepared  only  by 

A.    HATKAN,    Chemist,    NEATH,      * 
And  sold  by  all  Chemists  in  London  and  throughout  the  Kingdom. 
Price  Is.  lid.,  2s.  9d..  and  4s.  6d.  per  bottle. 


As  Used  in  the  Royal  Nurseries. 


to  the  lambs,    tjSE    MATTHEWS'S 

Prepared    Fuller's    Earth 

In  the  NURSERY  and  at  the  TOILET. 
For  Protecting  the  Skin  and  Preserving  the  Complexion  from  cold 
winds,  redness,  roughness,  chapping,  Ac.  Of  all  Chemists,  6d.  A  Is. 

BOUSE  &  Co.,  Xakers,  12,  Wisrmore  St.,  London. 
By  Pott  '2d.  extra. 


A    LUXURY 

UNKNOWN    IN    ENGLAND. 


BARBER  &  COMPANY'S 

(SEE  THAI  YOU  HAVE  HONE  OTHEK) 

FRENCH  COFFEE 

As  used  in  Paris,  in  its  Highest  Perfection. 


TENPENCE  PER  POUND. 

This  ia  the  choioest  and  most  carefully  selected  Coffee, 
"  Boasted  on  the  French  principle,"  and  mixed  with  the  finest 
Bruges  Chicory. 

2  lbs.  in  Tins  sent  free  for  2s.  4d.,  by  Parcels  Post  to 

any  Post  Town  in  the  United  Kingdom,  and 

5  lbs.  in  Tins  for  5s.  6d. 

BARBER  &  COMPANY, 

274,  REGENT  CIRCUS,  OXFORD  STREET,  W. 

61,  Bishopsgate  Street,  Citjr;   11,  Boro'  High  Street,  S.E. ;  102, 
Westbourae  Grore,  W. ;   42,  Great  Titehfietd  Street,  W. ; 
King's  Cross,  N. 
HAWCHESTBB— 93,Msrket  St.BIBMINGHAM— Quadrant,Ne\r  St 

BRIGHTON— 147,  North  Street,  BRISTOL  -38,  Com  Street. 

LIYEBP00L— 1,  Church  St. ;  &  Minster  Buildings ;  &  London  Rd. 

P&E8T0H— 104,  Fiahsrg»te. 

Pettal  Order*  from  If.  6d.  i»  10*.  Gd.  can  now  he  obtained  for  One  Penny  at  all 
Pott  Office*,    SomUtantet  to  be  crested  "  London  and  Wettmiiuttr  Sank." 


TWO     TEASPOONFULS     OF     NEWTON'S 

CELEBRATED 

BALM     OF    LICORICE, 

Coltsfoot,  Honey,  &  Horchound, 

Instantly  relieves  Coughs,  Colds,  Bronchitis,  Asthma,  Whooping 

Cough,  and  all  obstructions  of  the  Throat,  Chest,  and  Lungs. 

Invaluable  for  Children.    No  home  should  be  without  it. 

In  Bottles,  Is.  lid.  &  2s.  9d. 

Prepared  only  by  J.  W.  Newton,  Family  Chemist,  Salisbury. 

London   Agents:   BARCLAY   &    SONS. 

Thousands  of  Testimonials  from  all  parts. 

NEWTON'S 

QUININE,      RHUBARB,     DANDELION,     AND 
X  PODOPHYLLIN    PILLS. 

A  Simple  but  Effectual  Remedy  for  Indigestion,  all  Stomach  Complaints,  - 
Sluggish  Liver,  Constipation  of  the  Bowels,   Headache,  Giddiness,  Loss  of 
Appetite,  Pains  in  the  Chest,  Fulness  after  Eating,  Depression  of  Spirits, 
Disturbed  Sleep.    These  purifying  Vegetable  Pills  may  be  taken  by  persons 
of  all  ages,  in  all  conditions,  and  by  both  sexes. 

Sold  in  Soxes  with  Directions,  at  Is.  lid.  and  Us.  9d.;  or  sent  post  free 

for  IS  or  36  stamps. 

The  above  prepared  solely  by 

J.  W.    NEWTON,   Family    Chemist,    SALISBURY. 

Ask  your  Chemist  to  obtain  the  above  if  not  in  stock.     Babclay  ifc  Sons 
are  the  London  Agents,  and  all  Chemists. 


BUMSTED'S  SEA -SALT. 

Every  person  in  health  should  bathe,  and  if  a  proper  quantity  of  sea 

salt  be  added  to  a  bath,  the  chill  which  fresh  water  sometimes  gives 

is  obviated. 

To  be  had  of  Chemists,  Grocers,  and  Oilmen. 


BUMSTED'S    ROYAL  BRITISH  TABLE    SALT. 

Be  sure  and.  ask  for  it,  and  take  no  other. 
In  Jars  and  Paper  Packets,  not  in  Bags. 

D.  BUMSTED  &  Co.,  King  William  St.,  London  Bridge. 


HANS  BREITMANN'S  BARTY, 


AND  OTHER  BALLADS. 


GOODALL'S 

Household  Specialities. 

Yorkshire  Relish. 

THE  MOST  DELICIOUS  SAUCE  IN  THE  WOELD. 

"  Makes  the  daintiest  dishes  more  delicious  " 

Bottles  6cL,  Is.,  and  2s.  each. 

Goodall's  Egg  Powder. 

THE  ONLY  SUBSTITUTE  FOR  EGGS  YET 
DISCOVERED. 

One  Sixpenny  Tin  will  go  as  far  as  Twenty  Eggs. 

Sold  in  Id.  Packets;   6d.  and  Is.  Tins. 

Goodall's  Custard  Powder 

MAKES  DELICIOUS  CUSTARDS  WITHOUT  EGGS, 
AND  AT  HALF  PRICE. 

In  Boxes,  6d.  and  Is.  each. 
Proprietors:  600DALL,  BACKHOUSE,  &  Co,,  LEEDS. 


HANS  BREITMANN'S  BARTY 


AND   OTHER   BALLADS. 


BY 


CHARLES     G      LELAND 


WARD,     LOCK    AND     CO. 

LONDON  :  WARWICK  HOUSE,  SALISBURY  SQUARE,  E.C. 
NEW  YORK :  BOND  STREET. 


Robert  W.  Woodruff 
Library 


EMORY  UNIVERSITY 

Special  Collections  &  Archives 


INTRODUCTION. 


THE  model  of  these  '  Ballads,'  we  suspec 
was  Mr.  Lowell's  '  Biglow  Papers,'  althoug 
the  conglomerate  character  of  the  Germar 
American  citizen  has  been  so  well  portraye 
herein,  that  there  are  few  actual  points  c 
resemblance  between  the  two  composition 
The  distinguishing  peculiarity  of  both  satirt 
seems  to  be  this, — political  shortcomings  bui 
lesqued,  or  satirized,  by  a  comparison  wit 
social  failings  and  home  weaknesses :  the  on 


vi  Introduction. 

kind  of  national  shortcoming  made  to  ex- 
pound whilst  ridiculing  the   other. 

Charles  G.  Leland,  from  whose  pen  we 
have  the  '  Breitmann  Ballads!  has  long  been 
known  in  the  United  States  as  the  author 
of  some  admirable  pieces,  prose  and  verse, 
first  published  in  newspapers  and  magazines, 
and  particularly  for  his  skill  in  translating 
from  the  German.  If  we  mistake  not,  he  is 
another  of  those  Americans,  who,  like  Bayard 
Taylor,  Ross,  and  Dana,  have  travelled  ex- 
tensively in  the  Old  World. 

The  hero,  '  Breitmann,'  is  said  to  have  been 
one  Jost,  a  German  trooper,  of  the  Fifteenth 
Pennsylvania  Volunteers  Cavalry.  The  lan- 
guage employed  is  that  broken  speech  used 


Introduction.  vii 

by  German  emigrants  in  the  Great  Republic. 
As  there  are  some  millions  of  these  foreigners 
and  their  children  scattered  throughout  the 
Thirty-one  States  (the  bakery,  grocery,  or 
store  for  sweets  and  lager-beer,  in  almost 
every  town,  being  conducted  by  a  German), 
it  cannot  be  wondered  at  that  already  the 
English  language  in  America  has  become  to 
some  extent  Germanized.  Thus,  all  the 
familiar  words  in  German  speech,  the  ques- 
tions and  answers  of  every-day  life,  and  the 
names  of  common  objects,  are  as  well  known 
and  recognised  among  all  classes  throughout 
the  Union  as  the  coins  of  Prussia  and  Austria 
are  current  and  acceptable  tender. 

The     various     Americanisms     and    slang 


/Ill 


Introduction. 


expressions  which  Breitmann  employs,  or 
perverts,  with  such  ludicrous  effect,  will,  it  is 
hoped,  be  found  sufficiently  explained  in  the 
few  notes  which  the  editors  have  added  where 
they  seemed  desirable. 


CONTENTS. 


BREITMANN  AND  THE  '  TURNERS '      . 
BREITMANN  IN  BATTLE 
BREITMANN  IN  MARYLAND 
BREITMANN  AS  A  '  BUMMER '     . 

SECOND  PART  ..... 

BREITMANN  IN  KANSAS 

SHTORY  APOUT  SCHNITZERL;S  PHILOSOPEDE 
BALLAD  OF  THE  MERMAID 

DIE  SCHCEN  E  WITTWE, 

I.    VOT  DER  YANKEE  CHAP  SUNG      . 
II.   HOW  DER  BREITMANN  CUT  HIM  OUT      . 


FAGS 
II 

16 

22 

37 

46 

53 
62 

70 
74 

78 
79 


HANS  BREITMANN'S*  'BARTY 

[*  Breitmann,  '  bread  (or  huge)  man,'  has  the  hint 
in  it  of  a  big  swaggerer  or  burly  boaster.  Hans  is  tlu 
commonest  of  all  Christian  names  in  Germany,  bang 
equivalent  to  our  JOHN.] 

T  T  ANS  BREITMANN  gif  a  barty ; 

Dey  hat  biano-blayin', 
I  fell'd  in  luf  mit  a  'Merican  frau,1 

Her  name  vas  Madilda  Yane. 
She  hat  haar  ash  prown  ash  a  pretzel,1 


'  'Frau:'  Ger.     A  wife- 

'  '  Brezel,'  or  '  Bretzel,'  a  cracknel  or  bun  in  the  shape  of  a 
letter  B  (or  nearer  still  to  the  figure  8),  flavoured  with  salt. 


12  Hans  Breitmann  s  Ballads. 

Her  eyes  vas  himmel-plue,1 
Und  ven  dey  looket  indo  mine, 
Dey  shplit  mine  heart  in  doo. 

Hans  Breitmann  gif  a  barty, 

I  vent  dere,  you'll  be  pound; 
I  valtz't  mit  Madilda  Yane, 

Und  vent  shpinnen'  roundt  und  roundt, 
Der  pootiest  Fraulein2  in  der  hause, 

She  vayed  'pout  doo  hoondred  pounat, 
Und  efery  dime  she  gif  a  shoomp 

She  make  der  vinders  sound. 

Hans  Breitmann  gif  a  barty, 
I  dells  you,  it  cosht  him  dear; 

1  '  Himmel-blau :'  heavenly,  or  sky-blut. 
'  Fraulein  :'  Ger.    Young  lady. 


Hans  Breitmanris  Barty.  1 3 

Dey  rolled  in  more  ash  sefen  kecks 

Of  foost-rate  lager-peer.1 
Und  venefer  dey  knocks  der  shpicket*  in 

Der  Deutschers  gifs  a  cheer 
I  dinks  dat  so  vine  a  barty 

Nefer  coom  to  a  het3  dis  year. 

Hans  Breitmann  gif  a  barty ; 

Dere  all  vash  Souse  undt  Brouse,4 

-  '  Lager-bier :'  the  common  German  drink  used  in  the 
United  States,  so  named  from  improved  quality  being  kept 
in  a  cellar  or  warehouse  :  from  '  lagem,'  to  store  up. 

1  'Shpicket,'  i.e.  spigot. 

1  '  Come  to  a  head,'  a  simile  common  enough  in  America, 
drawn  by  the  vulgar  from  the  uncertain  progress  of  impos- 
thumes,  and  used  to  denote  the  success,  or  non-success,  that 
may  attend  any  undecided  affair.  In  England  the  phrase 
is  occasionally  employed,  as  '  the  conspiracy  came  to  a 
head.: 

4  '  Saus  und  Braus :'   Ger.     Riot  and  Bustle. 


14  Hans  Breitmanri s  Ballads. 

Ven  der  sooper  corned  in,  de  gompany 
Did  make  demselfs  to  house  ;l 

Dey  ate  das  Brot  und  Gensy-broost,2 
Der  Bratwurst  und  Braten  vine,3 

Undt  vash  der  Abendessen4  down 
Mft  vour  parrels  ov  Neckarwein.5 

Hans  Breitmann  gif  a  barty ; 

Ve  all  cot  troonk  ash  bigs. 
I  poot  mine  mout'  to  a  parrel  of  peer 

Undt  emptied  it  oop  mit  a  schwigs ; 

1  '  To  house  :'  Americanism  for  '  at  home.' 

*  '  Das  Brot  und  Gensy-broost :'  Ger.  '  Das  Brod  und 
Gansebrust '  (bread  and  white  meat  of  the  goose,  the  latter 
cut  from  the  breast,  and  cured  by  smoking). 

*  '  Der  Bratwurst  und  Braten  vine :'  sausages  and  roast 
nteats  fine. 

4  '  Abendessen  :'  Ger.     Supper. 

*  '  Neckarwein :'  wine  grown  on  the  Neckar. 


Hans  Breitmann 's  Barty.  1 5 

Und  den  I  giss'd  Madilda  Yane 
Und  she  schlog  me  on  der  kop,1 

Und  der  gompany  vighted  mit  daple-lecks 
Dill  der  coonshtable  mate  00s  shtop. 

Hans  Breitmann  gif  a  barty— 

Vhere  ish  dat  barty  now  ? 
Vhere  ish  der  lufly  colden  gloud 

Dat  float  on  der  moundain's  prow  ? 
Vhere  ish  de  himmelstrahlende  sterns — 

De  shtar  of  de  shpirit's  light  ? 
All  gon'd  afay  mit  der  lager-peer — 

Afay  in  de  ewigkeit  !3 

1  'Schlog  me  on  der  kop,'   for  'Schlug  mich  auf  den 
Kopf : '  struck  me  on  the  head. 
* 'Himmelstrahlende  stern:'  Ger.  'Heavenly-shining  star.' 
'  '  Ewigkeit :'  Ger.    '  Eternity ;'  '  gone  for  ever. ' 


1 6  Hans  Breitmann 's  Ballads, 


BREITMANN  AND  THE 
'TURNERS.' 

(THE  GYMNASTIC  SOCIETY.) 

T  T  ANS  BREITMANN  choined  de  Turners, 

Nofember  in  de  fall, 
Und  dey  gift  a  boostin'  bender1 

All  in  de  Turner  Hall. 
Dere  coomed  de  whole  Gesangverein* 

Mit  der  Liederlich  Apfel  Chor,s 

1  '  A  bursting  bender,'  a  grand  banquet :  from  '  to  bend,' 
perverted  into  to  take  relaxation  by  indulgence  in  drink. 

2  Singing  Society. 

'  Burlesque  title  of  a  Harmonic  Society,  '  The  Jolly  Dogs 
Apple-of-our-Eye  Choral  Society.' 


Breitmann  and  the  Turners.  ij 

Und  dey  blowed  on  de  drooms  und  stroomed 
on  de  fifes 
Till  dey  couldn't  refife  no  more. 

Hans  Breitmann  choined  de  Turners, 

Dey  all  set  oop  some  shouts, 
Dey  took'd  him  into  dair  Turner  Hall, 

Und  poots  him  droo  a  course  of  shprouts,1 
Dey  poots  him  on  de  barell-hell  pars1 

Und  shtands  him  oop  on  his  head, 
Und  dey  poomps  de  peer  mit  an  enchine  hose3 

In  his  mout'  dill  he 's  'pout  half  tead  ! 

Hans  Breitmann  choined  de  Turners ; 
Dey  make  shimnastig  dricks 

1  A  series  of  instructive  lessons:  'Just  as  the  twig  is  bent,' &c. 
3  Parallel  bars.  a  Fire-engine  tubing. 


1 8  Hans  Breitmanri 's  Ballads. 

He  stoot  on  de  middle  of  de  floor, 

Und  put  oop  a  fifdy-six.1 
Und  den  he  drows  it  to  de  roof, 

Und  schwig  off  a  treadful  trink  : 
De  veight  coom  toomple  pack  on  his  headt, 

Und  py  shinks  !  he  didn't  vink  ! 

Hans  Breitmann  choined  de  Turners  :— 

Mein  Gott !  how  dey  drinked  und  shwore  ! 
Dere  vas  Schwabians  und  Tyrolers, 

Und  Bavarians  by  de  score. 
Some  vellers  coomed  from  de  Rheinland, 

Und  Frankfort-on-de-Main, 
Boot  dere  vas  only  von  Sharman  dere, 

Und  he  vas  a  Holstein  Dane, 

1  A  fifty-six-pound  weight,  or  dumb-bell. 


Breitmann  and  the  Turners.  19 

Hans  Breitmann  choined  de  Turners, 

Mit  a  Limpurg'  cheese1  he  coom ; 
Ven  he  oben  de  pox  it  schmell  so  loudt 

It  knock  de  musik  doomb. 
Ven  de  Deutschers  kit  de  vlavour, 

It  coorl  de  haar  on  deir  head  ; 
Boot  dere  vas  dwo  Amerigans  dere ; 

Und,  py  tarn  !  it  kilt  dem  dead  ! 

Hans  Breitmann  choined  de  Turners ; 

De  ladies  coomed  in  to  see ; 
Dey  poot  dem  in  de  blace  for  de  gals, 

All  in  der  gal-lerie. 

1  Limburger  cheese — an  abomination  guilty  of  the  most 
powerful  odour.  A  story  is  told  in  the  United  States  of  a 
sharp  fellow  taking  a  cellar  on  lease,  and,  by  storing  it  with 
'Limburger  Kase,'  compelling  the  landlord  to  buy  back  the 
long  lease,  all  the  other  tenants  being  driven  frantic. 


20  Hans  Breitmanri s  Ballads. 

Dey  ashk  :  '  Vhere  ish  der  Breitmann  ?' 
Und  dey  dremple  mit  awe  und  fear 

Vhen  dey  see  him  schwingen'  py  de  toes, 
A-trinkin'  lager-peer. 

Hans  Breitmann  choined  de  Turners  :— 

I  dells  you  vot,  py  tarn  ! 
Dey  sings  de  great  Urbummel-lied  :' 

De  holy  Sharman  psalm. 
Und  vhen  dey  kits  to  de  gorus 

You  ought  to  hear  dem  dramp  ! 
It  scared  der  Teufel  down  below 

To  hear  dem  Dootchmen  schtamp. 

Hans  Breitmann  choined  de  Turners  : — 
By  Donner !  it  vas  crandt, 

1  German  slang  term  for  the  loafer's  hymn,  or  arch -lazy- 
bones' song. 


Breiimann  and  the  Ttirners.  2 1 

Ven  de  whole  of  dem  goes  a-valkin' 

Und  dancin'  on  deir  hand, 
Mit  de  veet  all  vavin'  in  de  air, 

Gottstausend  I1  vot  a  dricks  ! 
Dill  der  Breitmann  vail  und  dey  all  co  town 

Shoost  like  a  row  of  bricks. 

Hans  Breitmann  choined  de  Turners  : — 

Dey  lay  dere  in  a  heap, 
Und  slept  dill  de  early  sonnen-shine 

Come  in  at  de  vindow  creep ; 
Und  de  preeze  it  vake  them  from  deir  tre^m, 

Und  dey  go  to  kit  deir  veed  : 
Here  hat  dis  song  an  Ende — 

Das  ist  Das  Breitmannslied.* 

1  A  euphemistic  German  oath  for  '  God's  Thousand  Thun- 
ders!' 

2  '  This  is  the  Lay  of  Breitmann.' 


22  Hans  Breitmann 's  Ballads. 


BREITMANN  IN  BATTLE. 

'  TUNC  TAPFRE  AUSFUHRERE  STREITUM   ET   RITTRI' 
DIGNUM  POTUERE   ERJAGERE  LOBUM.' 

DER  FADER  UNDT  DER  SON. 

T    DINKS    I'll   co    a-vightin"— outshpoke 

der  Breitemann, 
'  It 's  eighdeen  hoonderd  fordy-eight  since  / 

kits  swordt  in  handt ; 
Dese  fourdeen  years  mit  Hecker  all  roostin'  I 

haf  been, 
Boot  now  I  kicks  der  Teufel1  oop  and  goes 

for  sailin'  in.'2 


'  Der  Teufel,'  the  Prince  of  Darkness. 
2  'Sailing  in:'  American  for  'going  in;'  equivalent  to  the 
Cockney  expression  '  wiring  in.' 


Breitmann  in  Battle.  23 

'  If  you  go  land  out-ridin','  said  Caspar  Pickle- 
tongue, 

'  Foost  ding  you  knows  you  cooins  agross 
some  repels  prave  und  young, 

Avay  town  Sout'  in  Tixey,  dey'll  schplit  you 
like  a  clam  ' — : 

'  For  dat,'  spoke  out  der  Breitmann,  '  I  doos 
not  gare  one  tarn ! 

'  Who  der  Teufel  pe's  de  repels,  undt  vhere 

dey  kits  dair  sass,2 
If  dey  make  a  roon  on  Breitmann  he  '11  soon 

let  out  der  gas;3 

1  '  Clam,'  the  common  American  name  for  the  round, 
smooth-shelled  bivalve,  which  can  be  easily  opened  or  split 
by  a  knife-point. 

8  Sauce.  3  '  Gas,'  American  for  windy  words. 


24  Hans  Breitmann 's  Ballads. 

I  '11  shplit  dem  like  kartoffells  :'  I  '11  shlog  em 

on  de  kop  f 
I  '11  set  de  plackguarts  roonin'  so  dey  von't 

know  vheres  to  shtop.' 

Und  den  outshpoke  der  Breitmann,  mit  his 

schlaeger3  py  his  side  : 
'  Forvarts,  my  pully  landsmen  !*  it's  dime  to 

roon  undt  ride ; 
Vill  ridin',    vill  vightin' — der    Copitain    I'll 

pe, 

1  '  KartofFel,'  potatoes. 

2  Strike  them  on  the  head.     See  note  l,  p.  15. 
'  '  Schlager :'  Ger.  Sword. 

*  '  Bully  landsmen, '  a  curious  combination  of  American 
slang  and  German.  Bully  is  equivalent  to  fine,  brave, 
powerful;  as,  a  'bully  horse,'  a  'bully  man.'  Landsmann, 
Ger.  for  fellow-countryman. 


Breitmann  in  Battle.  25 

It's  sporn1  undt  horn  undt  saddle  now — all 
in  der  Cavallrie !' 

Und  ash  dey  rode  droo  Vinchesder,2  so  herr- 

lich3  to  pe  seen, 
Dere  coom't  some  repel  cavallrie  a-ridin'  on 

der  creen ; 
Mit4  a  sassy  repel  Dootchman— ein  colonel  in 

gommand : 
Says  he,  (Vot  Teufel  makes  you  here  in  dis 

mein  Faaderland  ? 

'You're  dressed  oop  like  a  shentlemann  mit 
your  plackguart  Yankee  grew, 

1  '  Sporn :'   Ger.     Spur. 

2  Winchester,  where  there  was  an  action  during  the  Ame- 
rican civil  war. 

3  'Herrlich:'  Ger.     Gallant.  *  'Mit:'  Ger.     With. 


26  Hans  Breitmaniis  Ballads. 

You  mudsills1  und  meganics !  Der  Teufel  put 

you  droo ! 
Old  Yank,  you  ought  to  shtay  at  home  und 

dake  your  liddle  horn,2 
Mit  some  oldt  voomans  for  a   noorse' — der 

Breitmann  laugh  mit  shkorn. 

'  Und  should  I  trink  mein  lager-peer  und  roost 

mine  self  to  home  ? 
I  'fe  got  too  many  dings  like  you  to   mash 

beneat'  my  thoom : 

1  '  Mudsill,'  a  term  of  reproach  used  by  the  Southerners 
against  the  Northerners,  meaning  the  sediment,  or  very  dregs 
of  mud.  From  mud-sill,  the  timber  which  underlies  the 
'  sleeper '  on  a  railway  track ;  figuratively  applied  by  the 
proud  Southerners  to  poor  people — or  the  working  classes  — 
upon  whose  shoulders  the  upper  classes  repose  in  affluence 
and  security. 

2  'Little  horn,'  drink;  from  the  country  people's  use  of 
cows'  horns  for  drinking-measures. 


Breitmann  in  Battle.  27 

In  many  a  fray  und  vieroe  foray  dis  Dootch- 

man  will  be  feared 
Pefore  he  stops  dis  vightin'  trade — 'twas  dere 

he  grayed  his  peard.' 


'  I  pools  dat  peard  out  by  de  roots — I  gifs 

him  sooch  a  dwist 
Dill  all  de  plood  roons  out,  you  tamn'd  old 

Apolitionist  I1 
Your  creenpacks2  mit  your  swordt  und  vatch 

right  ofer  you  moost  shell,3 

1  Abolitionist. 

2  Greenbacks :  the  United  States  bank-notes,  printed  on 
the  reverse  with  green  non-photographable  ink. 

3  '  Shell  out, '  to  pay  over ;  from  the  analogy  of  opening  a 
pocket-book  to  take  out  coin,  and  of  opening  a  shell  to 
extract  the  fish. 


28  Hans  Breitmanris  Ballads, 

Und  den  you  goes  to  Libby1  shtraight — und 
after  dat  to  h— 11 !' 

'  Mein  creenpacks  und  mein  schlaeger,  I  kits 

'em  in  New  York, 
To  gif  dem  up  to  creenhorns,2  young  man,  is 

not  de  talk;' 
De   heroes   shtopped    deir   sassin'   here   und 

gross't  deir  sabres  dwice't, 
Und  de  vay  dese  Deutschers  vent  to  vork  vos 

von  pig  ding  on  ice.3 


1  Libby  Prison  at  Richmond,  for  prisoLtrs  of  war. 

2  Greenhorns. 

3  '  A  big  thing  on  ice.'  All  the  restaurants  in  the  United 
States  have  refrigerators,  in  which  are  kept  eatables  likely 
to  be  spoiled  by  heat  in  summer ;  hence,  the  rarest  delicacies 
are  most  carefully  put  'on  ice,'  and  'a  big  thing'  also  'on 
ice,  would  necessarily  be  some  exceptionab'ly  fine  rarity. 


Breitmann  in  Battle.  29 

Der  younker  fetch  der  oldter  sooch  a  gottall- 

machty    schmack 
Der  Breitmann  dinks  he  really  hears  his  skool 

go  shplit  und  crack  ; 
Der  repel  shoomps  dwelf  paces  pack,  und  so 

he  safe  his  life  : 
Der  Breitmann  says  :  '  I  guess  dem  shoomps 

you  learns  dem  of  your  vife.' 

'  If  I  should  learn  of  vomans  I  dinks  it  vere  a 

shame, 
Bei  Cott  I  am  a  shendlemann,  aristograt,  und 

game. 
My  fader  vos  anoder — I  lose  him  fery  young — 

1   '  God-almighty :'  burlesque   adverb  for   '  excessively,'  in 
connexion  with  a  suitable  adjective  understood, 


30  Hans  Breitmanris  Ballads. 

Der  Teufel  take  your  soul       Coom  on  !  I  '11 
shplit  your  vaggin'  tongue!' 

A  Yankee  drick  der  Breitmann  dried — dat 

oldt  gray-pearded  man — 
For   ash   de  repel  raised  his  swordt,  beneat' 

dat  swordt  he  ran. 
All  roundt  der  shlim  yoong  repel's  vaist  his 

arms  oldt  Breitmann  pound, 
Und  schlinged  him  down  oopon  his  pack  und 

laidt  him  on  der  ground. 

'  Who  rubs  against  olt  kittle-pots  may  keep 

vite — if  he  can, 
Say,  vot  you  dinks  of  vightin'  now,  mit  dis  old 

shendlemann  ? 


Breitmann  in  Battle.  31 

Your  dime  is  oop ;  you  got  to  die,  und  1  your 

briest  vill  pe  ; 
Peliev'st  dou  in  Moral  Ideas  ?'     If  so,  I  lets 

you  free.' 

'  I  don't  know  nix2  apout  ideas — no  more  dan 

'pout  Saint  Paul, 
Since  I  'fe  peen  down  in  Tixeys  I  kits  no  books 

at  all ; 

1  '  Moral  Ideas :!  jocosely  said  of  the  extreme  Abolitionists 
and  Unionists,  who,  in  the  midst  of  the  most  sanguinary 
battles  of  the  Civil  War  always  roundly  asserted  that  they 
desired  not  to  coerce,  or  conquer, — only  to  persuade  by 
'  Moral   Ideas.' 

2  '  Nichts :'   Ger.  Nothing. 

3  Dixie's  Land,  i.  e.  the  Southern  States.  Many  interpret- 
ations of  this  expression  have  been  given,  and  it  would  be 
difficult  in  our  limited  space  to  discuss  them  with  any  degree 
of  satisfaction  to  the  reader. 


32  Hans  Breitmanri s  Ballads. 

I  'm  greener  ash  de  clofer-grass ;  I  'm  shtupid 

ash  a  shpoon ; 
I  'm  ignoranter  ash  de  nigs1 — for  dey  takes  de 

Tribune!* 

'  Mein  fader's  name  vas  Breitmann,  I  heard 

mein  mutter  say, 
She  read  de  bapers  dat  he  died  after  she  rooned 

afay ; 
Dey  say  he  leaft  some  broperty — berhaps  'tvas 

all  a  sell — 
If  I  could  lay   mein  hands  on  it  I  likes  it 

mighty  veil. 

1  '  Nig '  for  nigger. 

2  'Triiune,'  the  New  York  daily  paper  of  that  name,  the 
organ  of  the  extreme  Abolitionists,  and  sarcastically  stated  in 
the  South  to  number  amongst  its  subscribers  a  great  many 
self-educated  niggers. 


Breitmann  in  Battle.  33 

'  Und  vas  dy  fader  Breitmann  ?  Bist  du1  his 

kit'  und  kin  ? 
Denn  know  dat  ich  der  Breitmann  dein  lieber 

Vater  bin?'2 
Der  Breitmann  poolled  his  hand-shoe3  off  und 

shookt  him  py  de  handt ; 
'  Ve'll  haf  some  trinks  on  strengt'  of  dis — or 

else  may  I  pe  tamn'd  !' 


'  Oh  !    fader,   how    I    shlog    your    kop,'   der 

younger  Breitmann  said ; 
'  I  'd  den  dimes  sooner  had  it  coom  right  down 

on  mine  own  headt !' 

1  '  Art  thou  ?' 

s  '  Know  that  I  your  beloved  Father  Breitmann  am.' 

3  Handschuh  :   Ger.  Glove. 


34  Hans  Breitmanris  Ballads. 

'  Oh,  never  mind — dat  soon  dry  oop — I  shticks 

him  mit  a  blaster ; 
If  I  had  shplit  you  like  a  fish,  dat  vere  an 

vorse  tisassder.' 


Dis  fight  did  last  all  afternoon — wohfr  to  de 

fesper-tide,2 
Und  droo  de  streets  of  Vinchesder,  der  Breit- 

mann  he  did  ride. 
Vot  vears  der  Breitmann   on   his   hat  ?     De 

ploom  of  fictory ! 
Who's  dat  a-ridin'  py  his  side  ?     '  Dis  here 's 

mein  son,'  says  he. 


*  '  Wohl,'  well,  even  unto. 

5  '  Vesper-zeit :'  Ger.  Evening,  even-tid*- 


Breitmann  in  Battle.  35 

How  stately  rode  der  Breitmann  oop  ! — how 

lordly  he  kit  down  ! 
How  glorious  from  de  great pokal^  he  trink  de 

peer  so  prown ! 
But   der  Yunger  bick    der  parrel   oop   und 

schwig  him  all  at  one. 
'  Bei  Gott !  dat  settles  all  dis  dings — I  know 

dou  art  mein  son!' 


Der  one  has  cot  a  fader;  de  oder  foundt  a 

schild. 
Bofe  ride  oopon  one  war-bath  now  in  pattle 

vierce  und  fild. 


1  '  Pokal,'  drinking-cup :  in  this  case  the  large  glass  pint 
beer-mug  used  in  America. 


36 


Hans  Breitmanris  Ballads. 


It  makes  so  glad  our  hearts  to  hear  dat  dey 

did  so  succeed — 
Und  damit  hat  sein  Ende  DES  JUNGEN  Breit- 

mann's  lied.1 


1  •  And  here  comes  to  its  end  the  Lay  of  Breitmann 
the  Younger.' 


Breitmann  in  Maryland.  37 


BREITMANN  IN  MARYLAND. 


D 


ER  BREITMANN  mit  his  gompany, 

Rode  out  in  Marylandt. 
'  Dere  's  nix  to  trink  in  dis  countrie ; 

Mine  droat  's  as  dry  as  sand. 
It 's  light  canteen  und  haversack, 

I 's  hoonger  mixed  mit  doorst ; 
Und  if  ve  had  some  lager-peer 

I  'd  trink  oontil  I  boorst. 
Gling,  glang,  gloria ! 

Ve  'd  trink  oontil  ve  boorst. 


38  Hans  Breitmanri s  Ballads. 

'  Herr  Leutd'nant,  take  a  dozen  men, 

Und  ride  dis  landt  around  ! 
Herr  Feldwebel,1  go  foragin' 

Dill  somedings  goot  ish  found. 
Gotts-donder  !2  men,  go  ploonder  ! 

Ve  hafn't  trinked  a  pit 
Dis  fourdeen  hours  !  If  I  had  peer 

I  'd  sauf 3  oontil  I  shplit ! 
Gling,  glang,  gloria ! 

Ve  'd  sauf  oontil  ve  shplit ! 

Ad  mitternacht*  a  horse's  hoofs 
Goom  raddlin'  droo  de  gamp ; 


'  Herr  Feldwebel :'  Get-.     Master  Serjeant. 

2  '  God's  Thunder  :'  a  noisy  German  oath. 

3  '  Saufen :'  Ger.     To  drink,  carouse. 

*  Midnight. 


Breitmann  in  Maryland,  39 

'Rouse  dere  ! — coom  rouse  der  house  dere ! 

Herr  Copitain — ve  moost  tromp  ! 
Der  scouds  haf  foundt  a  repel  town, 

Mit  repel  davern  near, 
A  repel  keller1  in  de  cround, 

Mit  repel  lager-peer  !  ! 
Gling,  glang,  gloria ! 

All  fool  of  lager-peer  !' 

Gottsdonnerkreuzschockschwerenoth ! 2 
How  Breitmann  broked  de  bush  !3 

'  O  let  me  see  dat  lager-peer  ! 
O  let  me  at  him  rush  ! 

Und  is  mein  zabre  sharp  und  true, 

•  Cellar. 

2  A  burlesque  oath,  high  sounding,   and  full  of  terrible 
meaning. 

3  Break  the  bush,  i.e.  rush  through  a  thicket, 


40  Hans  Breitmanris  Ballads. 

Und  is  mein  var-horse  goot  ? 
To  get  one  quart  of  lager-peer 
I  'd  shpill  a  sea  of  ploot. 

Gling,  glang,  gloria ! 
I  'd  shpill  a  sea  of  ploot. 

'  Funf1  hoonderd  repels  hold  de  down, 

One  hoonderd  strong  are  ve ; 
Who  gares  a  tarn  for  all  de  odds 
Vhen  men  so  dirsty  pe  ?' 
Und  in  dey  smashed  und  down  dey  crashed, 

Like  donder-polts  dey  fly, 
Rush  fort  as  der  vild  yager2  cooms 

'Funf,'  five. 
2  'Yager,'  i.e.  jager,  sharpshooter  or  rifleman;  from  the 
first  corps  of  this  kind  being  formed  of  gamekeepers  and 
hunters.     '  Wild  Jager,'   the  Wild   Huntsman  of  German 
Legends. 


Breitmann  in  Maryland.  41 

Mit  blitzen1  droo  de  shky. 

Gling,  glang,  gloria ! 
Like  blitzen  droo  de  shky. 


How  flewed  to  rite,  how  flewed  to  left, 

De  moundains,  drees,  und  hedge ! 
How  left  und  rite  de  yager-corps 

Vent  donderin'  droo  de  pridge  ! 
Und  splash  und  splosh  dey  ford  de  shtream 

Vere  not  some  pridges  pe : 
All  dripplin'  in  de  moondlight  peam 

Stracks2  vent  de  cavallrie. 
Gling,  glang,  gloria ! 

Der  Breitmann's  cavallrie. 


1  'Blitzen,'  Ger.     Lightning. 
%  'Stracks,'  straight,  direct. 


42  Hans  Breitmann  s  Ballads. 

Und  hoory,  hoory,  on  dey  rote, 

Oonheedin'  vet  or  try ; 
Und  horse  und  rider  shnort  und  blowed, 

Und  shparldin'  bepples  fly. 
Ropp  !  Ropp  !  I  shmell  de  parley-prew  ! 

Dere  's  somedings  goot  ish  near. 
Ropp  !  Ropp  ! — I  scent  de  kneiperei  ;* 

Ve  've  cot  to  lager-peer  ! 
Gling,  glang,  gloria ! 

Ve  've  cot  to  lager-peer  ! 


Hei !  how  de  carpine  pullets  klinged2 

Oopon  de  helmets  hart ! 
Oh,  Breitmann — how  dy  zabre  ringed ; 

1  '  Kneipe,'  beerhouse. 

*  '  How  the  carbine  bullets  rang.' 


Breitmann  in  Maryland.  43 

Du  alter  Knasterburt !  * 
De  contrapands2  dey  sing  for  choy 

To  see  der  rebs  co  town, 
Und  hear  der  Breitmann  crimly  gry  : 
Hoorah  ! — ve've  dook  de  down. 
Gling,  glang,  gloria  ! 
Victoria,  victoria ! 
De  Dootch  have  dook  de  down. 

Mid  shout  und  crash  und  zabre  vash, 
Und  vild  husaren3  shout 


1  '  You  old  grumbler  ! '  And  probably  a  punning  allusion 
to  the  'Nasty  Boy,'  the  exact  American  equivalent  to  our 
'  Ugly  Customer.' 

2  'Contrabands.'  Gen.  Butler  would  not  return  fugitive 
slaves  to  claimants,  on  the  ground  of  their  being  useful  as 
workmen  to  the  enemy,  and,  therefore,  contraband  of  war. 

3  '  Husaren  shout,'  cheering  like  hussars. 


44  Hans  Breitmanri s  Ballads, 

De  Dootchmen  boorst  de  keller  in, 

Und  rollt  der  lager  out ; 
And  in  the  coorlin'  powder  shmoke, 

Vile  shtill  der  pullets  sung, 
Dere  shtood  der  Breitmann,  axe  in  hand!, 
A-knockin'  out  der  boong. 
Gling,  glang,  gloria ! 
Victoria !  Encoria ! 
De  shpicket  beats  de  boong. 


Gotts  !  vot  a  shpree  der  Breitmann  had 

Vhile  yet  his  hand  was  red, 
A-trinkin'  lager  from  his  poots 

Among  de  repel  tead. 
'Tvas  dus  dey  vent  at  mitternight 

Along  der  moundain  side : 


Breitmann  in  Maryland.  45 

'Tvas  dus  dey  help  '  make  history  I'1 
Dis  vas  der  Breitmann's  ride. 
Gling,  glang,  gloria  ; 
Victoria !  Victoria ! 
Cer'visia,  encoria  ? 
De  treadful  midtnight  ride 
Of  Breitmann's  vildt  Freischarlinger.* 
All  vamous,  proad,  und  vide. 


1  One  of  the  Northern  orators  said  the  army  were  '  making 
history '  by  their  actions. 

2  '  Freischarlinger  : '  Ger.   Freischarler,  volunteers,     par- 
tisans. 


46  Hans  Breitmann's  Ballads. 


BREITMANN  AS  A  'BUMMER/1 

TpvER    SHENERAL   SHERMAN   holts 
oop  on  his  coorse, 
He  shtops  ad  de  gross-road  und  reins  in  his 
horse. 
*'  Dere  *s  a  ford  on  der  rifer  dis  day  ve  moost 
dake, 
Or  elshe  de  grand  army   in  bieces  shall 
preak!' 

1  '  Bummler,'  an  idler,  a  loafer. 


Breitmann  as  a  Bummer.  47 

Ven  shoost  ash  dis  vord  vrom   his  lips  hat 

cone  bast, 
Dere  coom't  a  young  orterly  gallopin'  vast, 
Who  gry  mit  amazement :  '  Here,  Shen'ral ! 

Goot  Lord ! 
Dat  Btimmer  der  Breitmann  ish  holdiri  der 

ford/' 

Der  Shen'ral  he   ootered   no  hymn   und   no 
psalm, 
But   opened   his   lips   und   he  priefly  say, 

<D n!1 

Dere  moost  hafe  been  viskey  on  dat  side  der 
rifer; 
To  get  it  dose  shaps  vould  set  hell  in  a 
shiver ; 

1  '  Our  army  swore  terribly  in  Flanders. ' 


48  Hans  Breitmamis  Ballads. 

But  now  dat  dey  holdt  it,  ride  quick  to  deir 
aid : 
Ho,  Sickles  I1  moof  promp'ly,  sendt  town  a 
prigate ! 
Dat  Dootchman  moost  vork  mighty  hardt  mit 
ish  sword 
If  againsd  a  whole  army  he  holdt  to  de  ford.' 

Dey  spoored  on,   dey  hoory'd   on,  gallopin* 

shtraight, 

But  vor  Breitmann  help  coomed  shoost  a 

liddle  too  late, 

Vor  as  de  Lauwine2  goes  smash  mit  her  pound, 

So  on  to  de  Bummers  de  repels  coom  down : 

1  General  Sickles,  who  redeemed  an  injured  reputation 
for  shooting  his  wife's  seducer,  by  losing  a  leg  during  the 
war. 

*  'Lauwine:'  Ger.  Avalanche. 


Breitmann  as  a  Bummer.  49 

Heinrich  von  Schinkenstein's  tead  in  de  road, 
Dieterich  Hinkelbein's  flat  as  a  toad  ; 

Und  Sepperl — Tyroler— shpoke  nefer  a  vordt, 
But  shoost  '  Mutter  Gottes  /''  und  died  in  de 
ford. 

Itsch'l  of  Innspruck  ish  drilled  droo  de  hair 

Einer  aus  Boeblingen — he,  doo,  vash  dere — 
Karl  of  Karlsruh  is  shot  near  de  fence, 

(His  horse  vash  o'erloadet  mit  toorkies  und 
hens,) 
Und   dough   he   like   a  ravin'  mad  cannibal 
vought, 
Yet  der  Breitmann — der  capt'n — der  hero — 
vash  gaught ; 

'   '  Holy  Virgin,'  '  God's  Mother  ! ' 

D 


50  Hans  Breitmanris  Ballads. 

Und  de  last  dings  ve  saw,  he  vas  died  mit  a 
gord, 
Vor  de  repels  hat  goppled  him  oop1  at  de 
vord. 

Dey  shtripped  off  his  goat  und  skyugled2  his 
poots, 
Dey  dressed  him   mit  rags  of  a  repel  re- 
cruits ; 
But  von  gray-haared  oldt  veller  shmiled  crimly 
und  bet 
Dat  Breitmann  vouldt  pe  a  pad  egg  for  dem 
yet. 

1  '  To  gobble  up, '  to  capture  a  whole  party,  all  to  a  man, 
as  a  hungry  turkey  swallows  a  cropful  of  grains  at  a  gulp. 

3  '  Skyugle,'  a  burlesque  Americanism,  implying  some  act 
too  horrible  to  express  plainly.  Here  '  they  made  away  with 
his  boots.' 


Breitmann  as  a  Bummer.  5 1 

'  He  has  more  on  ish  pipe  ash  dem  vellers 
allows ; 
He  has  cardts  yet  in  hand  und  das  Spiel  is t 
nicht  aus,' 
Dey  '11  find  dat  dey  dook  in   der  Teufel  to 
poard,2 
De  day  dey  pooled  Breitmann  veil  ofer  de 
ford. 

In  de  Bowery3  each  bier-haus  mit  crape  vas 
oopdone, 
Vhen  dey  read  in  de  babers  dat  Breitmann 
vas  cone ; 

'   '  The  game  is  not  yet  played  out.' 

J  Took  in  the  Devil  to  board  and  lodge.  '  To  take  into 
board '  is  a  very  common  phrase  in  America,  where  one-half 
of  the  people  '  board '  at  other  people's  houses  or  hotels. 

3  The  Bowery  is  a  large  street  in  New  York,  abounding  in 
places  of  resort  for  Germans  ;  as  dance-houses,  bier-gartens, 
the  German  Theatre,  &c. 


52  Hans  BrHtmanri  s  Ballads. 

Und  der  Dootch  all  cot  troonk  oopon  lager 
und  wein, 
At   de  great  Trauer-fest1   of   de   Turner- 
Verein.8 
Dere  vas  wein-en  mit  weinen3  ven  beoplesh 
did  dink 
Dat  Sherman's  great  Sharman  cood  nefer 
more  trink. 
Und  in  Villiam  Shtreet4  veepin*  und  vailen' 
vas  hoor'd, 
Pecause  der  Hans  Breitmann  vas  lost  at  de 
ford. 

1  Mourning-celebration. 

*  The  Germans  imported  their  Gymnastic  Society  into  the 
United  States,  keeping  the  same  name,  derived  from  '  tur- 
nen,'  to  tilt  or  joust,  but  popularly  supposed  to  mean  'to 
turn,1  as  in  acrobatic  feats.  The  members  are  known  as 
'  Turners.' 

3  '  Whining  with  wine-ing  :'  i.  e.  crying  and  drinking. 

*  William  Street,  New  York,  is  full  of  German  drinking- 
places. 


Breitmann  as  a  Bummer.  53 


SECOND  PART. 

TN  dulcejubilo  now  ve  all  sings, 

A-vaifin'  de  panners  like  efery  dings. 
De  preeze  droo  de  bine-trees  is  cooler  und 
salt, 
Und  der  Shen'ral  is  merry  venefer  ve  halt ; 
Loosty  und  merry  he  schmells  at  de  preeze, 
Lustig  tmd  heiter1  he  looks  droo  de  drees, 
Ltistig  und  heiter  ash  veil  he  may  pe, 

For  Sherman,  at  last,  has  march't  down  to 
de  sea  ! 

Dere's  a  gry  from  de  guard  —  dere's  a  clotter 
und  dramp, 

1  Lighthearted  and  cheerful. 


54  Hans  Breitmann's  Ballads. 

Ven  dat  fery  same  orterly  rides  droo  de 
camp, 
Who  report  on  de  ford.     Dere  ish  druples  and 
awe 
In  de  face  of  de  youf  apout  somedings  he 
saw; 
Und  he  shpeak  me  in  Fraentsch,  like  he  al- 
ways do  :  '  Look  ! 
Sagre  pleu  !  fentre-Tieu^ — dere  ish  Breit- 
mann — his  spook  !2 
He  ish  goming  dis  vay  !     Nom  de  gare  /3  can 
it  pe 
Dat  de  spooks  of  de  tead  men  coom  down 
to  de  sea !' 

1  Sacre-bleu,  ventre-Dieu  :  Fr.  Burlesque  oaths. 
a  Ghost  or  fetch. 

3  Notn  de  guerre:   Fr.    '  Fighting  name,'  nickname,   but 
here  used  mistakenly  for  an  oath. 


Breitmann  as  a  Btimmer.  55 

Und  ve  looks,  und  ve  sees,  und  ve  tremples 
mit  tread, 
For  risin'  all  schwart1  on  de  efenin'  red 
Vas  Johannes  —  der  Breitmann — der  war  es,2 
bei  Gott ! 
Coom  ridin'  to  oos-vard,  right  shtralght  to 
de  shpot ! 
All   mouse-schtill   ve   shtood,   yet   mit    oop- 
shoompin'  hearts, 
For  he  look  shoost  so  pig  as  de  shiant  of 
de  Hartz ; 
Und  I  heard  de  Sout'-Deutschers  say,  'Ave 
Morie!3 
Braise  Gott  all  goot  shpirids  py  land  und 
py  sea ! ' 

1  Black.  *  '  Der  war  es  :'  Ger.   '  There  he  was  I' 

*  The  '  Sud-Deutschers,'  or  inhabitants  of  Southern  Ger- 
many, are  mostly  Catholics. 


$6  Hans  Breitmanri s  Ballads. 

Boot  Itzig  of  Frankfort  he  lift  oop  his  nose, 
Und   be-mark1   dat   de   shpook    hat    peen 
changin'  his  clothes, 
For  he  zeemed  like  an  Generalissimus  drest 
In   a   vlamin'    new   coat   und    magnificent 
vest. 
Six  bistols  beschlagen  mit  silber2  he  vore, 
Und  a  cold-mounded  swordt  like  a  Kaisar3 
he  bore, 
Und  ve  dinks  dat  de  ghosdt — or  votever  he 
pe— 
Moosht  haf  proken  some  panks*  on  his  vay 
to  de  sea. 


1  Bemerken,  to  notice. 

3  Covered  or  inlaid  with  silver  ;  Damasceened. 

3  '  Like  an  emperor.' 

4  'Broken  some  banks,'   a  perversion  of  the  gamblers' 
phrase  to  make  it  signify  'committed  some  robbery.' 


Breitmann  as  a  Bummer.  57 

'  Id  is  he  !'  '  Und  er  lebt  noch  /' — he  lifs,  ve  all 
say : 
Der  Breitmann  —  Oldt  Breitmann! — Hans 
Breitmann!     'Herrje!'1 
Und  ve  roosh  to  emprace  him,  und  shtill  more 
ve  find 
Dat  verefer  he'd  peen,   he'd   left   noding 
pehind. 
In  bofe  of  his  poots  dere  vas  porte-moneys 
crammed, 
Mit  creen-packs  stoof-full  all  his  haversack 
jammed, 
In  his  bockets  cold  dollars  vere  shinglin'  deii 
doons 
Mit  doo  doozen   votches   und  four   dozer 
shpoons, 

1   '  Lord  Jesus  1' 


58  Hans  Breitmanris  Ballads. 

Und  doo  silber  tea-pods  for  makin'  his  dea, 
Der  ghosdt  haf  pring  mit  him,  en  route  to 
de  sea. 

Mit  goot  sweed-botatoes,  *  und  doorkies,  und 
rice, 
Ve  makes  him  a  sooper  of  efery-dings  nice. 
Und  de  bummers  hoont  roundt  apout,  alle  wie 
ein"~ 
Dill  dey  findt  a  plantaschion  mit  parrels  of 
wein. 
Den  'tvas  '  here 's  to  you,  Breitmann  !     Alt 
Schwed — bist  zurilck  ? 3 
Vot  teufels  you  makes  since  dis  fourteen 
nights  veek  ?' 

1  Sweet  potatoes  are  yams  or  plaintains. 

2  All  like  one  man. 

'  '  Old  chum,  you've  got  back  again  ? ' 


Breitmann  as  a  Bummer.  59 

Und  ve  holds  von  shtupendous  und  derriple 
shpree 
For  choy  dat  der  Breitmann  has  cot  to  de  sea. 

But  in  fain  tid  we  ashk  vhere  der  Breitmann 
hat  peen, 
Vot  he  tid ;  vot  he  bass  droo — or  vot  he 
might  seen  ? 
Vere  he  kits  his  vine  horse,  or  who  gafe  him 
dem  woons, 
Und  how  Brovidence  plessed  him  mit  tea- 
pods  und  shpoons  ? 
For  to  all  of  dem  queeries  he  only  reblies, 
'  If  you  dells  me  no  quesdions,  I  ashks  you 
no  lies !' 
So  'twas   glear  dat   some  derriple   mysh'dry 
moost  pe 


60  Hans  Breitmanris  Ballads. 

Vere  he  kits  all  dat  bloonder  he  prings  to 
de  sea. 

Dere  ish  bapers  in  Richmond  dells  derriple  lies 
How  Sherman's  grand  armee  haf  raise  deir 
sooplies : 
For   ve    readt    in   brindt  dat    der   Sheneral 
Grant 
Say  de  Bummers1  haf  only  shoost  take  vat 
dey  vant. 

1  '  Bummer '  in  time  had  come  to  be  derived  anew  from  a 
supposed  verb  to  '  bum,'  implying  '  to  sit  about  or  lean  upon 
the  barrels  in  a  drinking-place.'  Hence,  'bummers'  were 
properly  such  characters  as  become  pillars  of  public-houses 
—  counter  or  bar  props; — never  working,  yet  picking  up 
stray  coppers  from  day  to  day  ;  without  visible  or  legitimate 
means  of  livelihood,  yet  always  existing.  So  the  scouts  of 
Sherman's  army,  who  led  the  way  without  '  falling  back '  or 
'  sending  in '  for  regular  rations,  but  subsisting  mysteriously 
on  the  enemy,  were  pre-eminently  'Bummers.' 


Breitmann  as  a  Bummer. 


H 


But  'tis  vispered  dat  vile  a  refolfer  '11  go  round 

Der   Breitmann   vill   nefer   a-peggin'   be 

found ; 

Or  shtarvin'  ash  bris'ner — by  doonder! — not 

he, 

Vile  derTeufel  could  help  him  to  ged  to  de 


sea. 


62  Hans  Breitmanns  Ballads. 


BREITMANN  IN  KANSAS. 

^  7"0NCE  oopon  a  dimes,  good  $£&»  afder 
der  Var  vas  ofer,  der  Herr  Breitmann 
vent  oud  Vest,  drafellin'  apout  like  efery-dings 
— '  circuivit  terram  et  perambulavit  earn,'  ash 
der  Teufel  said  ven  dey  ask  him  :  'How  vash 
you  and  how  you  has  peen  ?' 

Von  efening  she  vas  drafel  mit  some  ladiesh 
und  shendlemans,  und  he  shtaid  incognitos. 
Und  dey  sing'd  songs,  dill  py-und-py  one  of 
de  ladiesh  say :  '  Ish  any  podies  here  ash 
know  de  crate  pallad   of   Hans  Breitmann's 


Breitmann  in  Kansas.  63 

Barty?'  Den  Hans  say:  ' Ecce  G alius !  I 
am  dat  rooster!'1  Den  der  Hans  dook  a 
trink  und  a  let-bencil  und  a  biece  of  baper, 
and  goes  indo  himself  a  little  dimes2  and  den 
coomes  out  again  mit  dis  boem : 

Hans  Breitmann  vent  to  Kansas ; 

He  drafel  vast  und  var. 
He  rided  shoost  drei3  dousand  miles 

All  in  von  rail-roat  car. 
He  knowed  foost-rate  how  far  he  goed — 

He  gounted  all  de  vile, 
Dere  vash  shoost  one  pottle  of  champagne, 

Dat  bopped  at  efery  mile. 

1   '  Rooster.'  American  for  cock-a-doodle-doo,  or  the  sultan 
of  the  barn  fowl. 

5  Free  translation  of  se  retirer.  3  Three 


64  Hans  Breitmann' s  Ballads. 

Hans  Breitmann  vent  to  Kansas  ; 

I  tell  you  vot,  my  poy, 
You  bet  dey  hat  a  pully1  dimes 

In  crossin'  Illinoy.2 
Dey  speaked  deir  speaks  to  all  de  volk 

A-shtandin'  in  de  car  ; 
Den  ashk  dem  in  do  dake  a  trink, 

Und  corned  em  ganz  und  gar? 

Hans  Breitmann  vent  to  Kansas ; 


1  Bully.  A  slang  term  for  '  capital,'  'excellent ;'  not  only 
popular  throughout  the  North  American  continent,  but  in 
Paris  in  1868-9  as  'du  bceuf.' 

2  The  State  of  Illinois,  as  generally  pronounced.  This 
State  is  mentioned  here  ou  account  of  the  Illinois  Central 
Railroad,  over  which  Breitmann  is  made  to  travel  on  his  way 
to  Kansas. 

3  '  Made  them  thoroughly  drunk  :'  from  '  to  com,'  t« 
pickle  with  corn  (maize)  whisky. 


Breitmann  in  Kansas.  65 

By  shings  I1  dey  did  it  prown. 
When  he  got  into  Leafenvort,2 

He  found  himselv  in  town. 
Dey  dined  him  at  de  Blanter's  House, 

Moor  goot  as  man  could  dink ; 
Mit  efery  dings  on  eart'  to  eat, 

Und  dwice  as  mooch  to  trink. 

Hans  Breitmann  vent  to  Kansas ; 

He  vent  it  on  de  loud.3 
At  Ellsvort',  in  de  prairie  land, 

He  foundt  a  pully  crowd. 

1  '  By  Jing,'  for  Jingo. 

2  Leavenworth. 

"  To  '  travel  on  the  loud,'  to  journey  in  a  showy,  flash 

manner.      A   cockneyism  recently  imported  by  the  New 

Yorkers   in  return  for  certain   Americanisms  which  have 
been  adopted  here. 


66  Hans  Breitmanri s  Ballads. 

He  looked  for  bleedin'  Kansas,1 
But  dat  's  '  blayed  out,'  dey  say ; 

De  vhiskey-keg's  de  only  dings 
Dat 's  bleedin'  dere  to-day. 

Hans  Breitmann  vent  to  Kansas, 

To  see  vot  he  could  hear. 
He  foundt  some  Deutschers  dat  exisdt 

Py  makin'  lager-peer. 
Says  he  :  '  Wie gekts,  du  Alt  GesellV1 

But  nodings  could  be  heard ; 
Dey  'd  growed  so  fat  in  Kansas 

Dat  dey  couldn't  speak  a  vord. 


1  Kansas  was  called  '  bleeding '  because  of  supposed 
tyranny  from  the  Southerners,  who  occupied  the  country 
along  with  slave-detesting  Yankees. 

3  '  How  are  you,  my  old  buck?' 


Breitmann  in  Kansas.  6j 

Hans  Breitmann  vent  to  Kansas ; 

Py  shings  !  I  dell  you  vot, 
Von  day  he  met  a  crisly  bear 

Dat  rooshed  him  down,  bei  Gott ! 
Boot  der  Breitmann  took  und  bind  der  bear, 

Und  bleased  him  fery  much — 
For  efery  vordt  der  crisly  growled 

Vas  goot  Bavarian  Dutch  ! 

Hans  Breitmann  vent  to  Kansas ; 

By  doonder  dat  is  so  ! 
He  ridet  oot  upon  de  blains 

To  shase  de  boofalo. 
He  fired  his  rifle  at  de  bools, 

Und  gallop  droo  de  shmoke, 
Und  shoomp  de  canyons1  shoost  as  if 

Der  teufel  vas  a  choke  ! 

1  '  Canyon  : '   English   spelling  of  the    pronunciation    of 
American-Spanish,  canon,  a  ravine. 


68  Hans  Breitmanri s  Ballads. 

It 's  hey  de  trail  to  Santa  Fe ; 

It 's  ho  !  agross  de  blain ; 
It's  lope1  along  de  Denver  Road, 

Until  ve  toorn  again, 
Und  de  railroad  drafel  after  us 

Apout  as  quick  as  ve ; 
Dis  Kansas  ish  de  vastest  land 

Ash  efer  I  did  see. 

Hans  Breitmann  vent  to  Kansas; 

He  haf  a  pully2  dime  ; 
Bot  'tvas  in  old  Missouri 

Dat  dey  rooshed  him  up3  sublime. 

1  'To  lope  :'  ancient  preterit  of  'to  leap;'  but  Western 
hunters  think  it  is  from  the  peculiar  steady  swinging  trot 
of  a  wolf  (Canadian  French  'lope'  for  'loup')  in  the 
chase. 

2  'Bully:'  fine,  jolly. 

3  '  To  rush  it,  to  do  a  thing  with  spirit.'— Bartlett. 


Breitmann  in  Kansas.  69 

Dey  took  him  to  der  Bilot  Knob, 

Und  all  der  knobs  around  ; 
Dey  shpreed  him  und  dey  tea'd  him 

Dill  dey  roon  him  to  de  ground. 

Hans  Breitmann  vent  to  Kansas ; 

Droo  all  dis  earthly  land, 
A-vorkin'  out  life's  mission  here 

Soobyectifly  und  grand. 
Some  beoblesh  runs  de  beautiful, 

Some  vorks  philosophic ; 
Der  Breitmann  solf  de  infinide 

Ash  von  eternal  shpree  \ 


70  Hans  Breitmanris  Ballads. 


SHTORY 


APOUT 


SCHNITZERL'S    PHILOSOPEDE, 

TJ  ERR   SCHNITZERL  make  a  philo- 
sopede, 

Von  of  der  newest  kindt ; 
It  vent  mitout  a  vheel  in  vront, 

Und  hadn't  none  pehind. 
Von  vheel  vas  in  de  mittel,  dough, 

Und  it  vent  as  sure  ash  ecks, 
Vor  he  shtraddled  on  de  axel  dree 

Mit  der  vheel  petween  his  leeks. 


Shtory  apout  SchiitzerV  s  Pliilosopede.     7 1 

Und  ven  he  vant  to  shtart  id  off 

He  paddlet  mit  his  veet, 
Und  soon  he  cot  to  go  so  vast 

Dat  avery  dings  he  peat. 
He  run  her  out  on  Broader  shtreet, 

He  shkeeted  like  de  vind, 
Hei !  how  he  bassed  de  vancy  traps, 

Und  lef  dem  all  pehind  ! 

De  vellers  mit  de  trotting  nags 

Pooled  oop  to  see  him  bass : 
De  Deutschers  all  erstaunished  saidt : 

'  Potztausend  !     Was  ist  das  ?' 
Boot  vaster  shtill  der  Schnitzerl  flewed 

On — mit  a  gashtly  smile; 
He  tidn't  tooch  de  dirt,  py  shings ! 

Not  vonce  in  half  a  mile. 


72  Hans  Breittnanris  Ballads. 

Oh,  vot  ish  all  dis  eartly  pliss  ? 

Oh,  vot  ish  man's  soocksess  ? 
Oh,  vot  ish  various  kinds  of  dings  ? 

Und  vot  ish  habbiness  ? 
Ve  find  a  pank  note  in  de  shtreedt, 

Next  dings  der  pank  ish  preak  ; 
Ve  falls,  und  knocks  our  outsides  in, 

Ven  ve  a  ten  shtrike  make.1 

So  vas  it  mit  der  Schnitzerlein 

On  his  philosopede ; 
His  feet  both  shlipped  outsideward  shoosfc 

Ven  at  his  extra  shpede. 
He  felled  oopon  der  vheel  of  coorse  ; 


1  Ten  strike,  the  master  stroke  at  the  bowling  game  of 
ten  pins, — a  variation  of  our  English  skittles.  Here  in- 
stanced as  an  enviable  success  in  life — a  decided  hit. 


Shtory  apout  SchnitzerV s  Philosopede.     73 

De  vheel  like  blitzen J  flew  ; 
Und  Schnitzerl  he  vos  schnitz*  in  vact, 
Vor  id  slished  hid  him  guide  in  two. 

Und  as  for  his  philosopede, 

Id  cot  so  shkared,  men  say, 
It  pounded  onward  till  it  vent 

Ganz  teufelwards3  afay, 
Boot  vhere  ish  now  der  Schnitzerl's  soul  ? 

Vhere  dos  his  shbirit  pide  ? 
In  Himmel4  troo  de  endless  plue, 

It  takes  a  medeor  ride. 

1   'Blitz:'   Ger.   Lightning. 

3  '  Schnitz  :'  Ger.  A  slice,  a  cut. 

3  Entirely,  or  completely,  in  the  direction  of  the  Devil. 


4  < 


Himmel:'  Ger.  Heaven, 


74  Hans  Breitmann 's  Ballads. 


BALLAD  OF  THE  MERMAID. 

BY  HANS  BREITMANN. 

T""\ER  noble  Ritter1  Hugo 

^^^     Von  Schwillensaufenstein, 
Rode  out  mit  shpeer  und  helmet, 

Und  he  coom  to  de  panks  of  de  Rhine. 

Und  oop  dere  rose  a  meer-maid, 

Vot  hadn't  got  nodings  on, 
Und  she  say,  '  Oh,  Ritter  Hugo, 

Vhere  you  goes  mit  yourself  alone  ?' 

1  Knight,  Sir. 


Ballad  of  the  Mermaid.  75 

Und  he  says,  '  I  rides  in  de  creenwood, 

Mit  helmet  und  mit  shpeer, 
Till  I  gooms  into  ein  Gasthaus,1 

Und  dere  I  trinks  some  peer.' 


Und  den  outsphoke  de  maiden 

Vot  hadn't  got  nodings  on : 
'  I  ton't  dink  mooch  of  beoplesh 

Dat  goes  mit  demselfs  alone. 

'  You  'd  petter  coom  down  in  de  wasser, 
Vhere  dere 's  heaps  of  dings  to  see, 

Und  haf  a  shplendid  tinner 
Und  drafel  along  mit  me. 

1  Tavern,  or  wine-shop. 


y6  Hans  Breitmanris  Ballads. 

'  Dere  you  sees  de  fisch  a-schwimmin', 
Und  you  catches  dem  efery  one :' — 

So  sang  dis  wasser  maiden 
Vot  hadn't  got  nodings  on. 


'  Dere  ish  drunks  all  full  mit  money 
In  ships  dat  vent  down  of  old  ; 

Und  you  helpsh  yourself,  by  doonder ! 
To  shimmerin' x  crowns  of  gold. 


'  Shoost  look  at  dese  shpoons  und  vatches ! 

Shoost  see  dese  diamant  rings  ! 
Goom  down  and  vill  your  bockets, 

Und  I  '11  giss  you  like  efery  dings. 

1  '  Schimmem :'  Ger.     To  glitter,  to  sparkle,  to  glimmer. 


Ballad  of  the  Mermaid.  77 

'  Vot  you  vantsh  mit  your  schnaps1  und  lager  ? 

Coom  down  into  der  Rhine  ! 
Der  ish  pottles  der  Kaiser  Charlemagne 

Vonce  filled  mit  gold-red  wine  !' 

Dat  fetched  him2 — he  shtood  all  shpell-pound  ! 

She  pooled  his  coat-tails  down, 
She  drawed  him  oonder  der  wasser. 

De  maiden  mit  nodings  on. 

1   'Schnapps:'   Ger.    Drams,  drinks. 
'  Brought  him  to  a  determination,'  emphatically. 


78  Hans  Breitmann's  Ballads. 


DIE  SCHCENE  WITTWE. 

(DE  POOTY  VIDDER.) 
I.   VOT  DE  YANKEE  CHAP  SUNG. 

T-^  AT  pooty  liddle  vidder 

Vot  ve  doshn't  vish  to  name, 
Ish  still  leben1  on  dat  liddle  sbtreet, 

A-doin'  shoost  de  same. 
De  glerks  aroundt  de  gorners 

Somedimes  goes  round  to  zee 
How  die  tarlin'  liddle  vitchy  ees, 

Und  ask  'er  how  she  pe. 
Dey  lufs  her  ver'  goot  liqoor, 

Dey  lufs  her  liddle  shtore; 

1  '  Leben, '  living. 


Die  Schcene  Wittwe.  79 

Dey  lufs  her  little  paby, 

But  dey  lufs  die  vidder  more. 
To  dalk  mit  dat  shveet  vidder, 

Ven  she  hands  das  lager  round, 
Vill  make  der  shap  dat  does  id 

Pe  happy,  ve  '11  be  pound. 
Dat  ish,  if  we  can  veil  pelieve 

De  glerks  vat  drinks  das  pier, 
Who  goes  in  dere  for  noding  elshe, 

Put  simply  vor  to  zee  her. 


II.   HOW  DER  BREITMANN  CUT  HIM  OUT. 


O 


H,  yes,  I  know  die  wittwe, 
Mit  eyes  so  prite  und  proun ! 


80  Hans  Breitmann's  Ballads. 

She's  de  allerschcenste  wittwe1 

Vot  lif  in  dis  here  down. 
In  her  plack  silk  gown — mine  grashious ! 

All  puttoned  to  de  neck  — 
Und  a  pooty  liddle  collar, 

Mitout  a  shpot  or  spheck. 
Ho  !  clear  de  drack,2  you  oder  fraus — 

You  gan't  pekin  to  shine 
Vhen  de  lufly  vidder  cooms  along — 

Dis  vidder  ash  ish  mine  ! 
Ho  !  clear  de  drack,  you  Yankee  snaps, 

You  Englishers  und  sooch. 
You  can't  pekin  to  coot  me  out, 

Mitout  you  dalks  in  Dootch. 


1  Most -beautiful  widow. 

2  '  Clear  the  track,'  railway  slang;  in  English  'clear  the 
line.' 


Die  Schccne  Wittwe.  81 

Ich  hab  die  schoene  wittwe 

Schon  lange  nit  gesehn, 
Ich  sah  sie  gestern  Abend 

Wohl  bei  dem  Counter  stehn. 
Die  Wangen  rein  wie  Milch  and  Blut, 

Die  Augen  hell  und  klar. 
Ich  hab  sie  sechsmal  auch  gekusst — 

Potztausend  !  das  ist  wahr.1 

1  These  eight  lines  may  be  roughly  translated  as  follows  : — 

I  had  not  seen  the  pretty  widow 

For  a  long  time  ; 
But  last  evening  I  saw  her, 

Standing  gracefully  behind  the  counter. 
Her  cheeks  were  as  pure  and  ruddy 

As  milk  and  blood  could  make  them. 
Her  eyes  were  beautifully  bright  and  clear. 
Did  I  give  her  as  many  as  six  kisses  ? 

Upon  my  word,  I  believe  I  did  ! 


HANS     BREITMANN'S 
CHRISTMAS. 

'  Hsec  est  ilia  bona  dies 
Et  vocata  Iseta,  quies 
Vina  sitientibus. 

'  Nullus  metus,  nee  labores, 
Nulla  cura,  nee  dolores, 
Sint  in  hoc  symposio.' 

\De  Generibus  Ebriosorum,  Franceforti 
ad  Mtznum,  A.D.  1565. 

T  D  vas  on  Weihnachtsabend — vot    Ghrist- 

mas  Efe  dey#call — 
Der  Breitmann  mit  his  Breitmen  tid  rent1  de 
Musik  Hall; 

1  '  Rent,'    for    to  lease,    to    hire — a    common    form    of 
expression  in  America. 


84  Hans  Breitmanris  Christmas. 

Ash  de  Breitmen    und    die  vomen  who  vere 

in  de  Liederkranz1 
Vouldt  blend  deir  souls  in  harmonie  to  have 

a  bleasin'  tantz. 

Dey  reefed2  de  Hall  'mid  pushes  so  nople  to 

pe  seen, 
Aroundt   Beethoven's   buster   dey  on-did3  a 

garlandt  creen  ; 
De  laties  vork  like  tyfels  doo  tays  to  scroob 

de  vloor, 

1  The  '  Liederkranz '  is  a  German  choral  union.  The 
principal  American  section  holds  its  meetings  in  New  York, 
and  the  annual  ball  of  this  glee  society  is  the  most 
recherchi  of  all  the  public  festivities  of  the  Germans  in 
that  great  city. 

2  They  wreathed  the  hall. 

3  'On-did,'  i.e.  the  German,  anthun,  to  put  on;  used  with 
an.  oblique  reference  to  the  Americanism  '  fix  : ' — '  they  fixed  a 
garland  on  the  bust. ' 


Hans  Breitmanris  Christmas.  85 

Und  hanged  a  crate  serenity1  mit  WILL- 
COMMl*    oop  de  toor  ! 

Und  vhile  dere  vas  a  Schwein-blatt3  whose 
redakteur4  tid  say; 

Dat  Breitmann  he  vas  liederlich;5  ve  ant- 
worded6  dis-away, 

Ve  maked  anoder  serenity  mid  ledders  plue 
und  red  : 


1  A  transparency,  from  '  serene '  being  taken  in  its  mean- 
ing of  clear. 

2  Ger.  '  Willkommen. '     Welcome. 

3  Term  of  contempt  for  a  newspaper :  the  dirty  paper,  or 
the  '  Hog's  Journal. ' 

'  '  Redacteur,'  editor.     A  French  word  lately  adopted  by 
the  Germans. 

5  Loose  or  reckless.      Precisely  the  word  for  what  are 
called  '  scaliwags '  in  the  United  States. 

6  'Antworded,'  '  Wir  antworteten : '   Ger.     We  answered. 


56  Hans  Breitmamtis  Christmas. 

'OUR  LEADER  LICK  DE  REPELS! 
N.G.'  (enof  gesaid.)1 

Und  anoder  serene  dransbarency  ve  make  de 

veller  baint, 
Boot  de  vay  he  potch  und  vertyfeled2  id,  vas 

enof  to  shvear  a  saint, 
For  ve  vanted  LA   GERMAN/A;  boot  der 

ardist,  mit  a  bloonder, 
Vent  und  vlorished  Lager   agross   id — und 

denn  poot  MANIA  oonder! 

Und  as   Ghristmas  Efe  vas  gekommen,3  de 
beoples  weren  im  Hall ; 

1  A  variation  of  the  English  and  American  street  humour. 
« N.  Q.:—nufced. 

2  Bedevilled. 

3  '  Gekommen : '   Ger.     Was  come,  had  arrived. 


Hans  Breitmami  s  Christmas.  87 

I  shvears  you,  id  vas  Gott-full1  —  dat  shplen- 

dit,  pe-glory'd  ball ; 
Ve  hat  foon  wie  der  Teufel  in  Frankreich- — 

ve  coot  oop  like  der  tyfel  in  France,2 
Und  valk  pair-wise  in,  vhile  de  musik  blayed 

loudt  de  Fackel-Tanz.3 

Boot  vhen  de  valtz  shtrike  oopwart  ve  most 
went  out  of  fits, 

1  Divine. 

2  The  proverb  —  A  great  frolic,  like  the  devil  in  France; 
equivalent  to  our  '  As  lively  as  the  devil  among  the  tailors. ' 

3  Flambeaux  or  torch  dance.  In  Germany,  after  a  pro- 
cession, the  torch-bearers  meet  in  an  open  space  —  generally 
the  market-place — and  form  a  circle  of  two  or  three  deep, 
according  to  the  number  taking  part  in  the  affair.  The  inner 
circle  pitch  their  torch-ends  into  the  middle  of  the  ring, 
which  is  immediately  followed  by  the  outer  circles  throwing 
their  torch-ends  in  the  same  direction,  over  the  heads  of  the 
persons  before  them.  Around  the  bonfire  thus  formed  the 
students,  or  those  engaged,  hold  their  Fackel-Tanz. 


88  Hans  Breitmanris  Christmas* 

Ash  der  Breitmann  led  off  on  a  dwister  mit 
de  luffly  Helmina1  Schmitz. 

He  valtz  shoost  like  he  vas  shtandin  shtill, 
mit  a  peaudiful  solemn  shmile, 

Und  'Mina  say  he  nefer  shtop  poussiren2  alia 
weil. 


'  Es  tcent,  es  rctuschet  Saitenklang — I  hear  de 

musik  call 
Den  kerzenhellen  Saal  entlang — all  droo  de 

gleamin'   Hall. 
0   moecht  ich  schweben   stolz   und  froh — O 

mighdt  I  efer  pe 


1  Wilhelmina, — generally  shortened  to  Helmina  or  Mina. 

2  To  pay  attention  to,    to  court;   but   there   is  also  an 
allusion  to  the  French  dancing  term  'pousser? 


Hans  Breitmami s  Christmas.  89 

Mit  dir  durchs  gauze  Leben  so! — mine  Leben- 
lang1  by  dee  ! ' 

Und  vaster  blay  de  musik2  de    Wellen   und 

Wogen3  von  Strauss ; 
Und    soom    drop    indo4    de    tantzen,5     und 

soom  of  dem  drop  aus  ;6 
Und  soon  like  a  shtorm  in  de  Meere7  I  veel 

de  reelin'  vloor, 

1  '  Mein  Lebenlang.'     My  lifetime  long,  all  my  life. 

2  'The  music,'  for  the  band,  the  collective  body  of  mu- 
sicians. Heard  in  London  theatres,  from  the  gallery,  '  Now, 
then,  play  up,  music  ! ' 

3  A  well-known  waltz  by  this  popular  composer :  '  The 
Waves  and  the  Billows.' 

4  '  Drop  into,'  a  variation  of  the  more  common  dancing 
phrase  '  fall  into.' 

5  Dance. 

6  Out,  011  the  floor,  down. 
An  ocean  storm. 


90  Hans  Breitmann 's  Christmas. 

So  de  shpinners  shtop  mit  de  shpinsters,  for 
dey  couldn't  shpin  no  more. 

Now   weren    ve    all    frolic,    und  lauter  guter 

ding, ' 
Und    dirsty    ash    a    broosh-pinder2 — ven   ve 

hear  some  glasses  ring ; 
Foorst  mildt  und  sonft3  in  de  distants — like 

de  song  of  a  nightingall, 
Den    a    ringin'   und    rottlin'    und    clotterin' — 

ash  de  Gliick  of  Edenhall  !4 

1  '  And  all  in  the  best  of  humour.' 

2  'Brush-binder:'  burlesque  German  for  brush-maker — 
one  who,  from  the  dusty  nature  of  his  business,  is  popularly 
believed  to  be  as  perpetually  thirsty  as  the  hatter  is  believed 
to  be  mad.     The  correct  German  is  '  Biirstenbinder.' 

3  ' Mild  tend  sanft,'  mild  and  gentle. 

4  '  The  Luck  of  Edenhall, '  by  Uhland,  translated  by 
Longfellow.  The  Musgrave  family,  in  Cumberland,  possess 
the  cup  of  the  legend. 


Hans  Breitmann 's  Christmas.  91 

Hei !  how  ve  roosh  on  de  liquor  ! — hei !  how 

de  kellners1  coom  : 
Hei !  how  ve  busted  de  bier-kegs  und  poon- 

ished  de  Punsch  a  la  Rhum." 
Like  lonely  wafes  at  mitternight  oopon  some 

shiant  shore; 
Like  an  awful  shtorm  in  de  Wselder3 — vas 

de  dirsty  Deutschers'  roar  ! 

I    pyed   some   carts   for   a  dime4  abiece — I 
pyed  shoost  fifdy-dwo, 

1  Waiters. 

-  'Ponche  a  la  rhum,'  (or,  more  correctly  speaking, 
'Punch  au  rhum')  rum-punch,  figures  in  many  Paris  bills 
of  fare  for  late  suppers. 

3  In  the  forests  or  woods. 

4  '  Dime, '  ten  cents  United  States'  currency.  From  the 
French  dixme,  or  dime,  tenth.  A  Dime  is  the  tenth  of  a 
dollar.  The  term  arose  in  New  Orleans  and  those  Southern 
towns  which  were  once  within  the  old  French  colony. 


92  Hans  Breitmanris  Christmas. 

Dey  vere  goot  for1  bier,  or  schnapps,  or 
wein ;  by  doonder,  how  dey  flew  ! 

I  ring  de  deck2  on  de  vaiters  for  liquor  hot 
und  cool, 

Und  efery  dime  I  blays  a  cart,  py  shings,  I 
rake  de  pool  !3 

1  'Good  for,'  Americanism,  'redeemable  in.'  During 
the  opening  year  of  the  great  civil  war,  when  specie  was 
withdrawn,  and  the  Government  had  not  met  the  demand  by 
increased  issue  of  paper-money  or  small  coin,  many  trade 
tokens  were  issued.  The  car-conductors  (tramway-cads) 
were  the  most  particular  about  taking  dubious  pseudo- 
change,  and,  on  one  of  them  being  offered  a  ticket  of  another 
company,  he  said,  'That  won't  pass  here  —  it's  the  Eighth 
Avenue:  only  good  for  Macomb's  Dam!'  (a  place  on  the 
Harlem  River,  upper  end  of  New  York  City).  '  Only  good 
for  Macomb's  Dam?''  repeated  the  owner,  disconsolately. 
'Well,  friend,  I  coin-aAt !     I  believe  that's  all  it  is  good  for!' 

2  Deck  of  cards  is  usually  applied  to  such  a  portion  of  a 
complete  pack  as  may  be  required  for  a  particular  game. 

5  '  Rake  de  pool,'  from  the  croupier's  rake  at  roulette. 


Hans  Breitmanti s  Christmas.  93 

Und  ash  ve  trinked  so  comforble,  like  boogs 

in  any  roog,1 
De  trompets  blowed  tan  da  ra  dei,  und  dere 

come  in  a  Maskenzug* 
A  peaudiful  brocession,  soul-raisin'  und  soo- 

plime, 
De   marmorbilds3  of  de  heroes  of  de   early 

Sharman  dime. 


Dere  vent  der  gros  Arminius,4  mit  his    frau 
Thusnelda,  doo, 


1  '  Bugs  in  a  rug,'  Irish  expression  for  the  height  of  snug- 
ness. 

2  A  train  or  procession  of  persons  masquerading. 

3  '  Marmorbild,'  a  statue  or  bust  in  marble. 

4  Hermann,  the  ancient  German  leader  who  defeated  the 
Roman  army  under  Varus. 


94  Hans  Brett  mantis  Christmas. 

De  vellers  ash  lam1  de  Romans  dill  dey  roon 

mit  noses  plue, 
Den  vollowed  Quinctilius  Varus  who  carry  a 

Roman  yoke, 
Und  arm  in  arm  mit  Gambrinus2  coom  der 

Allemane  Chroc.3 


1  '  Lam : '  Old  E.  to  beat.  Often  spoken  as  '  lambaste ' 
in  the  United  States. 

2  Gambrinus,  the  tun-bellied  King  of  Beer — and  of 
Bavaria — is  a  favourite  toast  in  German  song.  His  rotund 
figure  gives  a  shape  to  many  a  German  beer-mug. 

3  '  Allemane  Chroc : '  Ger.  Alemannischer  Krug,  a  Ger- 
man jug  or  tankard,  of  the  shape  described  in  the  pre- 
ceding note.  The  king  embodied  in  the  jug — Krug  (or 
'Chroc')  and  Gambrinus  accompanying  each  other — Breit- 
mann  thought  might  be  well  described  by  the  words  '  arm- 
in-arm.'  Chroc. — Ger.  Krug  (Patois,  Krog);  Old  Engl, 
Crock  ;  Anglo-Sax.  Crocca.   (See  Adelung  Worterbuch.) 

[The  editor  of  another  edition  of  the  present  volume — a 
German  by  birth — says:  'Chroc. —  An  Alemannic  hero 
unknown  to  history' (!)] 


Hans  Breitmanri  s  Christmas.  95 

Der   alte    Friedrich    Rothbart,1    und    Kaiser 

Karl  der  Crate,2 
Mit  Roland  und  Uliverus,3  vent  shveepin'  on 

in  shtate ; 
Und    Conradin,4  whose    sad-full    deaf   shtill 

makes  our  heartsen  pleed, 
Und  all  ov  dem  oldt  vellers  aus  dern  Nibelun- 

gen  Lied.5 

Und  as  dey  mofed  on,  der  Breitmann  maked 
a  tyfeled  shplendid  witz6 

Barbarossa. 

2  Charlemagne. 

3  Roland  and  Oliver. 

4  Prince  Konradin  (Conrad),  who  was  beheaded  at  Naples, 
in  1268. 

5  '  The  Lay  of  the  Nibelungen.' 

6  '  Tyfeled  shplendid  witz. '     In  plain  English,  '  A  deuced 
good  pun  ! '      As  some   indication  of  the  extent  to  which 


96  Hans  Breitmatm's  Christmas. 

In  anti-word1  to  dis  quesdion  from  de  lofely 

'Mina  Schmitz  : — 
'  Vhy  ish  id  dey  always  makes  in  shtone  dem 

vellers  so  andiquatet  ?' 
'  Vhy  ?     Dey  set  in  de  laps  of  Ages  dill  dey 

got  lapidated  /' 

Und   shoost   ash  de  last  of  dis   hisdory  hat 
fanished  droo  de  toor, 


German  speech  has  affected  the  vernacular  in  America,  we 
may  state  that  this  German  word,  witz,  has  been  adopted  by 
the  vast  numbers  of  '  negro  minstrels '  in  the  United  States, 
and  also  by  their  representatives  in  this  country.  Those 
casual  (make-believe  impromptu)  jokes  and  puns  indulged  in 
by  theatricals  are  styled  '  gags ; '  amongst  minstrels  they  are 
known  as  'wheezes?  Hence  the  sally  of  the  'end  man,' 
at  Christy's :  '  Why  is  an  asthmatic  man  the  funniest  of  all 
the  doctor's  patients  ?  Because  he  is  full  of  wheezes  !' 
1  Antwort :  Ger.     Answer. 


Hans  Breitmami  s  Christmas.  97 

Ve   heardt  a   ge-screech,1   und    Pelz    Nickel2 

coom  howlin'  on  de  vloor ; 
Den  de  laties  yell  like  der  tyfel,  und  vly  like 

gulls  mit  vings, 

1  Ge-screech.  A  corruption,  or  twisting,  of  the  Ger.  Ge- 
schrei:  shriek,  scream. 

2  Pelz  Nickel  is  the  fur-coated  St.  Nicholas,  whom  we 
see  as  a  toy  figure,  hooded,  and  with  his  coat  lined  with  fur, 
in  our  shop-windows  —  especially  at  Mr.  Rimmel's,  the  per- 
fumer—  about  Christmas  time.  He  usually  bears  a  tree 
—  the  Christmas  tree  of  children  —  and  is  believed  in  German 
nurseries  to  pass  over  the  house-tops  on  the  night  of  the  5th 
of  December,  and  to  drop  down  the  chimney  nice  presents 
for  good  children  and  rods  to  whip  bad  ones.  It  is  usual  to 
place  a  stocking  in  the  fireplace  to  receive  Pelz  Nickel's  gifts, 
and  mamma  and  papa  generally  avail  themselves  of  the 
occasion  to  show  their  pleasure  or  displeasure  at  the  conduct 
of  little  master  or  miss  during  the  past  year.  The  toy 
figure  imported  here  from  Germany  has  been  re-named  by 
our  children  'Old  Father  Christmas.'  In  America  he  is 
better  known  as  '  Santa  Claus  (Nicklaics),  and  the  time  of  his 
appearance  has  been  altered  to  Christmas  Eve. 

G 


98  Hans  Breitmann  s  Christmas. 

Und  der  Pelz  Nickel  lick1  em  mit  svitches,5 
und  ve  laughet  like  efery  dings. 

I  nefer  hafe  sooch  laughen  before  dat  I  vas 
ge-born ; 

Und  Pelz  Nickel,  vhen  'tvas  ober,  he  blow  on 
a  yseger  horn,3 

Und  denounce4  do  all  de  beople  gesembled  in 
dehall:-- 

'  Dat  a  Ghristmas  dree  vas  vaiten',  mit  pre- 
sents for  oos  all  !' 


1  Lick,  respectable  old  English  for  '  to  beat,'  but  now  a 
vulgar  expression,  quite  as  common  in  the  United  States  as 
here. 

2  In  America  the  word  •  rod  '  or  '  birch '  is  seldom  used. 
Children  are  always  beaten  with  '  switches. ' 

3  A  huntsman's  horn. 

4  A  Malapropism  which  needs  no  explanation. 


Hans  Breitmann 's  Christmas.  99 

So  ve  vollowed  him  into  de  zimmer1  so  quick 

ash  dese  vords  he  said, 
To  kit  dem  peaudiful  bresents,  all  gratis  und 

on  de  dead  ;2 

Zimmer :  Ger.     Room. 

2  '  On  the  dead. '  A  most  curious  Americanism,  which 
Mr.  Triibner  has  found  himself  entirely  unable  to  explain. 
It  is,  in  reality,  a  contraction  of  another  Transatlantic  ex- 
pression: 'dead  HEAD,' a  person  who  rides,  drinks,  or  eats 
without  paying  anything  for  the  same,  or  who  has  a  free  pass 
to  the  theatre  or  the  railway.  The  gentlemen  of  the  press, 
from  their  rarely  paying  for  their  amusements,  their  carriage, 
or  their  feed,  by  reason  of  their  influence  and  official  posi- 
tions, are  'dead  heads.'     Bartlett  gives  this  extract: — 

'  The  principal  avenue  of  our  city,'  writes  a  learned  friend  in  Detroit, 
'has  a  toll-gate  just  by  the  Elmwood  Cemetery  road.  As  the  cemetery 
had  been  laid  out  some  time  previous  to  the  construction  of  the  plank- 
road,  it  was  made  one  of  the  conditions  of  the  company's  charter  that  all 
funeral  processions  should  go  back  and  forth  free.  One  day  as  Dr. 
Price,  a  celebrated  physician,  stopped  to  pay  his  toll,  he  remarked  to  the 
gate-keeper: — "  Considering  the  benevolent  character  of  our  profession, 
I  think  you  ought  to  let  us  pass  free  of  charge." 

'"No,  no,  doctor,"  the  keeper  readily  replied  —  "we  couldn't  afford 
that;  you  send  too  many  DEAD  heads  through  here  as  it  is  !" 

'  The  doctor  paid  his  toll,  and  never  asked  favours  after  that.' 

Washington  Evening  Star,  Oct.  1857. 

Hence  to  get  anything  '  on  the  dead '  is  to  obtain  it  free  of 

charge. 


ioo  Hans  Breitmami s  Christmas. 

Und  in  facdt  a  shplendid  Weihnachtsbaum 1 

mit  lighds  ve  druly  vound, 
Und  liddel  kifts  dat  ge-kostet  a  benny  abiece 

all  roundt ! 


Dere  vas  Rika  Stange  die  Dessauerinn2 — a 
maedchen3  shtraigdt  und  tall, 

She  cot  a  bicture  of  Cubid — boot  she  tidnt 
see  it  ad  all4 

1  Weihnachtsbaum :  Ger.     A  Christmas  tree. 

2  The  girl  from  Dessau. 

3  Madchen :   Ger.     Maiden. 

4  '  Did  not  see  it,'  viz.  would  not  allow  it  to  be  observed. 
That  is,  she  ■would  not  see  the  pleasantry  intended,  she 
would  not  commit  herself.  The  word  see  is  often  used  here 
in  this  way :  thus,  if  one  man  is  trying  to  persuade  another 
against  his  will,  the  other  exclaims,  '  I  don't  see  it ! '  zV.  '  I 
don't  see  it  in  that  light — I  don't  understand  the  matter  as 
you  explain  it.' 


Hans  Breitmann 's  Christmas.  101 

Dill  der  Breitmann  say,  mit  his  shplendid 
shtyle  dat  all  de  laties  dake  : — 

'  Dat  pend  of  de  bow  ish  de  Crecian  pend ' 
dat  you  so  ofden  make  !' 

Anoder  scharmante  laity,  Maria  Top,  did  cot, 
A-schwingin'    mit   a   ribbon,    a   liddle   benny 

pot; 
Boot  Breitmann  haff  id  de  roughest  of  any 

oder  mans, 

1  '  The  Grecian  bend. '  A  recent  Paris  fashion,  at  once 
adopted  in  America.  It  is  the  curve  made  at  the  back  of  the 
body  when  a  female  carries  herself  as  if  walking  in  a  per- 
petual curtesy.  By  ornamenting  a  sash  with  a  large  bow  on 
the  apex  of  this  bend,  or  by  a  puff  of  the  dress  over-skirt,  it 
is  made  still  more  exquisitely  Hottentot  Venus-like.  It  may 
just  be  remarked  that  as  the  Irish  are  known  as  'the  Greeks' 
in  America,  to  '  go  on  the  Grecian  bender  is  to  get  drunk 
on  Irish  whisky. 


102  Hans  Breitmann 's  Christmas, 

For  he  kit  a  yellow  gratle  mit  a  liddle  vooden 
Hans.* 

Den  next  Beethoven's  Sinfonie,  die  orkester 

tid  blay ; 
Adagio — allegro — andante  cantabile. 
Ve    sat    in    shtill    commotion    so    dat   a   bin 

mighdt  drops, 
Und   de   deers   roon    town    der   Breitmann's 

sheeks,    mitwhiles     he      vas     trinkin' 

schnapps.2 

Next  dings  ve  had  de   Weinnachtstraum^  ge- 
sung  by  de  Liederkranz  ;* 

1  Hans,  the  commonest  of  all  German  Christian  names  : 
equivalent  to  our  John,  Johnny. 

2  Schnapps  :   Ger.     A  dram,  a  drink  of  strong  liquor. 

3  A  pun.      '  Weinnachtstraum,'  wine  night's  dream — for 
Weihnachtstraum,  Christmas  night's  dream. 

4  The  glee  society. 


Hans  Breitmanti  s  Christmas.  103 

Denn  I  trinked  dwelf  schoppens1  of  glee- 
wine2  to  sed  me  oop  for  a  tantz  ; 

Dis  dimes  I  tanz  wie  der  Tyfel3 — we  shriek4 
de  volk  on  de  vloor ; 

Und  boost  right  indo  de  sooper  room — for  ve 
tanzt  a  hole  troo  de  door  ! 

Denn  '  twas  rowdy  tow5  und  hop-sasa,6  ve 
hollered,  Mann  und  Weib;7 

1  Sclioppen,    Ger.  chopin.     A  measure,  a  pint. 
s  Gliihwein  :   Ger.     Mulled  or  spiced  wine. 

3  Teufel:  Ger.  The  devil.  The  favourite  word  in  the 
German  speech  of  the  lower  orders.  For  purposes  of  com- 
parison it  is  being  continually  employed — everything  being 
as  fast  or  slow,  good  or  bad,  as  'der  Teufel.'  It  is,  how- 
ever, in  almost  as  much  requisition  for  swearing  purposes. 

4  Schrecken :  Ger.     To  frighten,  to  alarm. 

5  '  Row-de-dow,'  imitation  of  a  drum-beat,  from  the 
popular  American  song,  '  Whack -row-de-dow !  I'm  a  Gen- 
tleman of  the  Army  ! ' 

6  Hopsa !  Interjection  of  excitement,  without  any  par- 
ticular meaning ;  hey-day ! 

'  Man  and  wife ; '  but  this  is  scarcely  the  author's  mean- 


104  Hans  Breitmann's  Christmas. 

'Rip,  Sam,  und  sed  her  oop  acain!1 — ve'er 

all  of  de  Shackdaw  tribe !' 
Vhen  Pelz  Nickel  plow  his  trump  vonce  more, 

und  peg  oos  to  shtop  our  din, 
Und   troo  de  oben  toor   dere   coomed   nine 

den-pins  marchin'  in.2 

ing.  'Every  mother's  son  of  us'  would  suit  the  occasion 
better,  but  those  words  would  not  fit  the  rhyme. 

1  The  English  reader  will  be  puzzled  not  a  little  at  this 
outburst.  It  is  the  chorus  of  the  favourite  song  of  the 
American  bowling-alleys  — 

'  Rip,  Sam,  set  her  up  again,  set  her  up  again,  set  her  up  again ! 
Rip,  Sam,  set  her  up  again  !  we  are  all  of  the  Choctaw  tribe ! ' 

'Let  her  rip,  Sam,'  i.e.  'roll  the  ball  down;'  'set  her  up 
again,'  i.e.  'stick  up  the  pin  or  pins  again.'  All  the  men 
who  perform  the  office  of  '  sticking-up '  rejoice  in  the  name 
of  '  Sam.'  It  is  not  generally  known  that  our  recently 
famous  music-hall  song  of  '  Jolly  Dogs  '  was  taken  from  the 
American  '  Rip,  Sam.' 

2  Ten-pins.     A  game  similar  to  our  Nine-pins 


Hans  Breitmann 's  Christmas.  105 

Nine  vellers  tressed  like  den-pins — dey  goed 

to  de  end'  der  hall, 
Und  dwo  Hans  Wurst,1  shack-puddin'  glowns 

— dey  rolled  at  'em  mit  a  pall. 
De  palls  vas  baintet  peaudiful ;  dey  was  vif- 

deen  feet  aroundt; 
Und  de  rule  ov  de  came :  '  whoefer  cot  hidt, 

moost  doomple  on  de  croundt' 

Somedimes  dey  hit  de  den-pins — somedimes 

de  oder  volk — 
Und  pooty  soon  de  gompany  vas  all  laid  out 

in  shoke ; 

1  Literally  Jack-puddings — merry-Andrews,  buffoons,  the 
clowns  with  bladders  tied  to  the  ends  of  sticks,  or  those  who 
could  make  and  swallow  imaginary  sausages  of  an  extravagant 
length. 


106  Hans  Breitmanris  Christmas. 

Boot  I  dells  you  vot,  it  maked  oos  laugh  dill 

ve  py-nearly  shplits, 
Vhen  der  Breitmann,  he  roll  ofer,  und  drip 

oop  de  'Mina  Schmitz. 

Dis  lets  itself  in  Sharman  pe  foost-rade  word- 

blayed  on,1 
Und  'mongst  oos  be-giftet  vellers  you  pet  dat 

id  vas  tone  ! 
How  der  Breitmann  mighdt  drafel  ash  bride- 

raann  on  de  roadt  dat  ish  breit  und 

krumm:* 
Here  de  drumpets  soundt,  und    pair-wise  ve 

goed  for3  de  sooper-room. 

1  '  Jeu  de  mot,'  pun  ;   Ger.  Wortspiel 

2  The  broad  and  c?-ooked  way. 

3  '  To  go  for.'     To  seize,  to  rush  at,  an  Americanism. 


Hans  Breitmann 's  Christmas.  1 07 

Ve  goed  for  ge-roasted  Welsh-hens,1  ve  goed 

for  gespickter  hare,2 
Ve  goed  for  kartoffel3  salade  mit  butter  brod 

—  Kaviar  :4 
Ve  roosh  at  de   lordtly  sauer-kraut5  und  de 

v/urst6  vitch  lofely  shine, 


1  Welsche  Hahn.  The  Italian  [all  things  foreign  to  Ger- 
many were  attributed  to  Italy]  turkey-cock.  The  author 
may  intend  a  pun  here  at  Wehh-raMit  (rare-bit)  in  con- 
nection with  the  hare  following. 

2  Roast  hare  larded  or  punctured  with  thin  strips  of  bacon. 
Spicken:  Ger.     To  interlard. 

3  Kartoffel:   Ger.     Pot-ato. 

*  Caviar,  the  roe  of  the  sturgeon  pickled.  A  favourite 
delicacy,  imported  from  Russia. 

5  Sauerkraut,  the  German  national  dish — cabbage  pickled 
in  brine,  not  vinegar. 

6  Wurst:  Ger.  Sausage, — here  one  of  the  shining  kind, 
washed  with  the  glare  of  an  egg. 


1 08  Hans  Breitmami  s  Christmas. 

Und  oh,  mein  Gott  in  Kimmel!1  how  we  goed 
for  de  Mosel-wein  !3 


Und  troonker  more,  und  troonker  yet,  und 

troonker  shtill  cot  ve, 
In  rosy  lighdt  shtill  driven  on  agross  a  fairy 

sea ; 
Denn    madder,    vilder,  frantic-er,  I  proked  a 

salat-dish  ! 
Und    shoost    like    roarin'   elefants   ve   tanzt 

aroundt  de  tish.3 


i  A  pun  upon  '  Oh,  mein  Gott  in  Himmel ! '  (in  heaven), 
the  tipsy  songster  confusing  it  with  'Kiimmel,'  familiar  for 
'  Kiimmel-wasser, '  brandy  flavoured  with  carraway  seeds. 

2  '  Sparkling  Moselle. ' 

3  Tisch:  Ger.     Table. 


Hans  Breitmanris  Christmas.  109 

I'fe  shvimmed  in  heafenly  troonks  pefore — 

boot  nefer  von  like  dis, 
De  morgen-het-ache  *  only  seemt  a  bortion  of 

de  pliss. 
De  vhile  in  trilling  peauty  roundt  like  heafenly 

vind-harps  rang 
A  goosh  of  goldnen  melodie — de  Rhir*ewein- 

bechers'  Klang.2 

De  meltin'  minnesingers'3  song — a  droonk  of 
honey'd  rhyme — 

1  The  morning  head-ache—  the  'hot  coppers/  which  seek 
relief  in  soda-and-brandy. 

2  The  clash  of  the  beakers  brimming  with  good  Rhine 
wine.  Probably  allusion'  is  made  to  the  popular  song 
'  Rheinweinlied,  words  by  M.  Claudius,  music  by  J.  Andre 
(1771),  usually  sung  at  all  German  festivals  when  the  com- 
pany begin  to  get  merry,  and  the  Rhine  wine  is  passing 
around  the  board. 

3  Minnesinger,  a  singer  of  love  melodies  in  former  times. 


no  Hans  Breitmann's  Christmas, 

De    b'wildrin-dipsy  Bardic  shants  of   Teuto- 

burgic  dime  ; 
Back  to  de  Runic  dim  Valhall1  und  Balder's 

foamin'  mead : 

— —Here   ents  in  heller    giorie  schein   des 

Breitmann's  Weihnachtslied  !2 


'  '  Valhall '— Walhalla,  the  banqueting-hall  of  the  heroes 
of  Northern  mythology.  '  Balder, '  the  son  of  Odin  and 
Friga,  served  out  the  foaming  mead. 

4  '  Here  ends,  in  the  brightest  blaze  of  glory,  the  sofig  of 
Breitmann's  Christmas.' 


DER   FREISCHUTZ.1 

Air—'  Der  Pabst  lebt?  &c.2 

\~XT1E  gehts,''  my  frendts — if  you'll  allow- 

I  sings  you  right  afay  shoost  now 
Some  dretful  shdories  vitch  dey  calls 
Der  Freyschutz  ;  or,  de  Magic  Balls. 


Wohl4  in  Bohemian  landt  it  cooms, 
Vhere  folks  trink  prandy  mate  of  plums  ; 

1  '  Der  Freischiitz,'  the  free  archer  of  the  olden  time;  in 
this  case,  the  rifle-volunteer,  of  whom  Weber's  opera,  named 
after  him,  immortalises  the  type. 

2  '  The  Pope  he  leads  a  merry  life,'  rendered  by  Lever. 

3  How  goes  it,  how  are  you,  my  friends? — equivalent  to 
our  '  How  d'ye  do?' 

'  Well. 


1 12  Der  Freischiitz. 

Dere  lifed  ein  Yaeger1 — Maxerl2  Schmit  — 
Who  shot  mit  goons  und  nefer  hit. 

Und  dere  vas  von  oldt  Yaeger,  who 
Says,  '  Maxerl,  dis  vill  nefer  do  ; 
If  you  shouldt  miss  on  trial-day, 
Dere '11  pe  der  tyfel  denn  to  pay. 

'  If  you  do  miss,  you  shtupid  coose, 
Dere '11  pe  de  donnerwetter3  loose  ; 

1  Yaeger:   Ger.     Jager,  huntsman,  sportsman. 

2  It  may  be  as  well  to  mention  that  the  hero  of  this  ballad 
is  variously  called  Max,  Maxerl,  Maximilian — the  two  far- 
mer being  abbreviations  of  the  latter.  In  Southern  Germany 
'  Maxerl '  is  the  favourite  form,  the  termination  erl  cor- 
responding to  our  ny  or  my  in  such  familiar  renderings  as 
Johiwzy,  TomOTj/. 

3  Donnerwetter.  Thunder-weather,  a  tempest;  the  ex- 
pression is  here  used  as  a  mild  oath. 


Der  Freischiltz.  1 1 3 

For  you  shan't  haff  mine  taughter's  hand, 
Nor  pe  de  Hertzhog's1  yaegersmann.'2 

Id  coom'd  pefore  de  tay  vas  set, 
Dat  all  de  chaps  togeder  met ; 
Und  Maxerl  fired  his  goon  und  missed, 
Und  all  de  gals  cot  roundt  und  hissed. 

Dey  laughed  pefore  und  hissed  pehind  ; 
Boot  von  chap — Kaspar — saidt,  '  Ton't  mind ; 
I  dells  you  vot — you  stuns  'em  alls 
If  yoost  you  shoodt  mit  magic  balls.' 

'  De  magic  balls  ! — oh,  vot  is  dat  ?' 
'  I  got  dem  in  my  hoonting  hat ; 


1  Herzog :   Ger.     A  duke. 

3  Jiigersmann :  Ger.     Hunter,  gamekeeper. 


U4  Der  Freischiitz. 

Dey  're  plack  as  kohl  und  shoodt  so  drue 
Oh,  dem  's  de  sort  of  palls  for  you  ! 

'  You  see  dat  eagle  vlyin'  high, 
Ein  hoondred  miles  oop  in  de  sky ; 
Shoot  at  dat  eagle  mit  your  bix," 
You  kills  him  tead  ash  doonderblix  !'2 

'  I  ton't  pelieve  de  dings  you  say.' 

'  You  fool,'  says  Kass,  '  denn  plaze  afay  !' 


1  Bix,  Biichse:  Ger.  Rifle.  'Bess,'  '  Brown  Bess,'  the 
name  given  to  the  old  regulation  musket,  is  derived  from  the 
Dutch  form  of  the  word,  and  came  from  the  Low  Countries 
with  William  of  Orange.  When  '  Hans  Busk  on  the  Rifle ' 
was  announced,  a  German  publisher  thought  the  name 
an  assumed  one  for  the  sake  of  a  pun. 

2  Doonderblix  :  Ger.  Donner  und  Blitz  :  thunder  and 
lightning. 


Der  Freischiitz.  1 1 5 

He  plazed  afay,  vhen,  sure  as  plood, 
Down  coom'd  de  eagle  in  de  mud. 


'  O  was  ist  das  ?'  said  Maxerl  Schmit.1 
'  Vy  !  dat  's  de  eagle  fot  you  hit. 
You  kills  him  vhen  you  plaze  afay ; 
Boot  dat 's  a  ding  you  nix  verstay.2 

'  Und  you  moost  go  to  make  dem  balls 
To  de  Wolf's  Glen  vhen  mitnight  falls. 


1  Oh,  what  is  that  ? 

2  Nichts,  not;  verstehen,  to  understand,  to  comprehend. 
'  Nix  verstay,'  is  the  popular  or  vulgar  rendering  of  the 
correct  phrase,  as  placed  in  the  mouth  of  a  newly-arrived 
German.  '  Nongtongpaw '  was  formerly  attributed  to  a 
Frenchman  fresh  from    France,   in  the  same  way. 


l'  1 6  Der  Freischiilz. 

Dow  know'st  de  shpot — alone  und  late  ' — 
'  Oh,  ya1  —  I  knows  him  gan2*  foost-rate  !' 

'  Boot  denn  I  does  not  likes  to  go 

Among  dem  dings.'     Says  Kass,  '  Ach,  'sho  ! 3 

I  '11  help  you  fix  dem  tyfel  chaps, 

Like  a  goot  feller — dake  some  schnapps  !' 

('Hilf,   Zamiel!  hilf  !')*—'  Here,  trink  some 

more ! ' 
Der  Kass  vent  shtompin'  roundt  de  vloor, 

1  Ya:  Ger.  J  a,  yes.  To  the  reader  unacquainted  with. 
German — and  few  in  this  country  know  the  language  when 
compared  with  the  many  Americans  who  speak  it — we 
would  remark  that  /  in  German  always  takes  the  sound  of 
y,  as  jager — yager;  Johan — Yohan. 

2  Ganz :   Ger.     Quite,  entirely. 

3  'Ach,  'sho !'  The  parallel  English  exclamations,  Ah  I  so ! 
indeed  !  give  the  author's  meaning. 

*  '  Help,  Zamiel  I  [the  demon]  help ! '     '  Come  to  my  aid. ' 


Der  Freischiitz.  117 

Und  coomed  his  hoompoogs  ofer  Schmit, 
Till  Max  saidt,  '  Nun —  ich  gehe  mit ! ' ! 

All  in  de  finster  mitternocht,8 
Vhen  oder  folk  in  shleep  vas  lock't, 
Down  in  de  Wolfsschlucht,3  Kass  tid  try 
His  tyfel-strikes  und  Hexerei.4 

Mit  skools  und  pones  he  mate  a  ring, 
De  howls  und  spooks5  pegin  to  sing, 
Und  all  de  tyfels  oonder-croundt 
Coom  preakin'  loose  und  rooshin'  roundt. 

'   '  Well,  then,  now  I  will  go  along  with  you  ! ' 
-  In  the  dark  midnight. 
3  The  wolf's  glen. 
*  Hexerei.     Witchcraft,  sorcery. 
6  Spook  :  Ger.     Spuk,  spectre,  hobgoblin. 


1 1 8  Der  Freischiltz 

Denn  Maxerl  cooms  along  :  says  he, 
'  Mein  Gott !  vot  dings  ish  dis  I  see  ! 

1  dinks  de  fery  tyfel  und  all 
Moost  help  to  make  dem  magic  ball. 

'  I  vish  dat  I  had  nix  cum  raus,1 
Und  shtaid  mineself  in  bett  to  house.' 
' Hilf,  Zamiel!'  cried  Kass  ;  'you  whelp — 
You  red2  Dootch  tyfel — coom  und  help  !' 

Denn  up  dere  coomed  a  tredfull  shtorm, 
De  todtengrips3  aroundt  tid  schvarm ; 

i  I  wish  I  had  not  come  out. 

2  Red  devil.  The  Germans  speak  of  the  devil  as  being 
red,  just  as  we  talk  about  his  being  so  black ;  thus  their 
phrases,  '  Rother  Teufel,'  red  devil;  '  Roth,  wie  der  Teufel,' 
red  as  the  devil. 

3  Todtengrips :  Ger.     Todtengerippe,  skeleton. 


Der  Freischiitz.  i 19 

De  howl  joomped  oop  und  flopt  his  vings, 
Und  toorned  his  het  like  efery  dings.1 

Oop  droo  de  croundt  here  coomed  a  pot 
Mit  leadt,  und  dings  to  make  de  shot ; 
Und  hcellisch  fire  in  grimson  plaze, 
Und  awful  schmells  like  Schweitzer  kase.2 

Agross  de  scene  a  pine-shtick  flew, 
Mit  seferal  jail-pirds  fastened  to  ; 
Six  treadtful  jail-pirds,  mit  deir  vings 
Tied  to  de  shticks  mit  magic  shtrings. 

1  '  Efery-dings, '  as  a  ready-made  convenient  comparison, 
is  almost  in  as  high  favour  with  Anglo-Germans  as  the 
favourite  '  Teufel. ' 

2  Swiss  cheese,  almost  as  powerful  in  its  smell  as  the 
Limburger  Kase,  alluded  to  in  a  foot-note  on  p.  19,  Part  I., 
of  this  work. 


120  Der  Freischiits. 

All  troo  de  air,  all  in  a  row, 
Die  wilde  Jagd ]  v as  seen  to  go  ; 
De  hounts  und  deer  all  mate  of  pone, 
Und  hoonted  py  a  skilleton. 

Dere  coomed  de  tredful  shpecdre  pig 
Who  shpitten'  fire,  afay  tid  dig ; 
Und  fiery  drocks2  und  tyfel-shnake 
A-scootin' 3  droo  de  air  tid  preak. 

Boot  Kass,  he  tidn't  mindt  dem  alls, 
Boot  casted  out  de  pullet  balls ; 

1  The  wild  hunter  of  German  legends.  See  Burger's 
'  Wild  Huntsman.' 

2  Drocks :   Get:     Drachen,  dragons. 

1  Scooting — vulgar  pronunciation  of  'skating.'  A  very 
common  Americanism,  implying  a  noiseless  sliding  move- 
ment, as  when  a  man  desires  to  leave  without  other  persons 
being  aware  of  the  fact. 


Der  Freischiitz.  121 

Six  vas  to  go  ash  he  vouldt  like, 
De  sevent'  moost  for  de  tyfel  shtrike. 

Ad  last,  oopon  de  drial  tay, 
De  gals  coom'd  roundt  so  nice  und  gay, 
Und  denn  dey  goed  und  maked  a  tantz, 
Und  singed  apout  de  Jungfernkranz?- 

Und  denn  der  Hertzhog — dat's  de  Duke — 
Cooms  down  und  dinks  he'll  dake  a  look  : 
'  Young  mans,'  to  Maxerl  denn  says  he, 
'  Shoost  shoot  dem  dove  oopon  dat  dree  !' 

Denn  Maxerl  pointed  mit  de  bix, 

'  Potzblitz  !'  says  he,  '  dat  dove  I'll  fix  !' 

1  Song  of  the  bridal  orange  wreath.    Chorus  from  Weber's 
opera,  '  Der  Freischiitz.' 


1 22  Der  Freischutz. 

He  fired  his  rifle  at  de  Taub',1 
When  Kass  roll'd  ofer  in  de  Staub 

De  pride  she  failed  too  in  de  doost, 
De  gals  dey  cried  —  de  men  dey  coossed  : 
Der  Hertzhog  says,  '  Id's  fery  glear 
Dat  dere  ash  peen  some  tyfels  here  ! 

'  Und  Max  has  shot  mit  tyfels-blei ! 3 
Pfui !—  die  verflucte  Hexerei ! 4 
O  Maximilian  !  O  Du 
Gehst  nit  mit  rechten  Dingen  zu  Vb 

i  Taube :  Ger.     Dove,  pigeon. 

2  Staube:  Ger.     Dust. 

3  Devil's  lead,  devil's  bullet. 

4  '  Fie !  out  upon  such  sorcery ! 

5  '  Oh,   Maximilian !    Oh,  you — have  not  done  this  by 
proper  means ! ' — '  not  acted  in  a  straight-forward  manner. ' 


Der  Freischiitz.  123 

But  denn  a  hermits  coomed  in  late ; 
Says  he,  '  I'll  fix1  dese  dings  foost-rate  :' 
Und  tell'd  der  Hertzhog  dat  young  men 
Will  raise  der  Tyfel  now  und  denn. 

De  Duke  forgif'd  de  Kaspar  dann, 
Und  mate  of  him  ein  Yaegersmann, 
Vhat  shoodts  mit  bixen  goon  und  pfeil,2 
Und  talks  apout  de  Waidmannsheil.' 

Und  denn  de  pride  she  coomed  to  life, 
Und  cot  to  pe  de  Maxerl's  wife ; 
Denn  all  de  beoples  cried  '  Hoorah  ! 
Das  ist  recht  brav  !4  und  hopsasa  !' 

1  'Fix.'     To  manage,  to  settle,  to  dispose  of  a  matter;  a 
favourite  Americanism. 

2  A  huntsman  who  shoots  with  muskets,  guns,  and  arrows. 

3  Sportsmanship,  hunting. 

4  '  This  is  capital !  —  and  so  hurrah!' 


HANS  BREITMANN  IN 
POLITICS. 

L  THE  NOMINATION. 

T  7HEN  ash  de  Var  vas  ober,  und  Beace  her 

shnow-vite  vings 
Vas  vafin'  o'er  de  coondry  (in  shpodts)   like 

efery  dings ; 
Und  heroes  vere  revardtet,  de  beople  all  pegan 
To  say  'tvas  shame  dat  nodings  vas  done  for 

Breitemann. 


126  Hans  Breitmann  in  Politics. 

No  man  wised x  how  id  vas  shtartedt,  or  vhere 

der  fore-shlog 2  came, 
Boot   dey  schveared    it   vas   a   sin    dereto,  a 

purnin'  shame : 
Dere  is   Schnitzerl   in    de   Gustorm-House- 

potzblitz  ! 3  can  dis  dings  pe  !  — 
Und  Breitmann  he  haf  nodings  :  vot  sights  is 

dis  to  see  i 

'  Nod  de  virst  ret  cendt 4  for  Breitmann  !  ish  dis 
do  pe  de  gry 

1  '  Wissen  ;'   Ger.  To  know,  to  understand. 

2  'Fore-shlog,'  rough  English,  for  'Vorschlag;'  Ger.  The 
'proposal,'  or,  in  this  instance,  the  'first  mention.' 

3  '  Potzblitz,'  a  German  burlesque  oath,  meaning,  if  any- 
thing, '  nameless  lightnings !  '  It  has,  also,  a  slanting  re- 
ference to  our  English  'possible'  ('is  it  possible?'),  in  the 
mouth  of  a  blundering  German. 

4  'Red  cent,'  the  smallest  American  copper  coin  in  circu- 


Hans  Breitmann  in  Politics.  127 

On  de  man  dat  sacked  de  repels  und  trinked 

dem  high  und  dry  ? 
By  meine  Seel' 1  I  shvears  id,  und  vot's  more, 

I  deglares  it's  drue, 

He  vonce  gleaned  oudt  a  down  in  half  an  oor, 

und  shtripped  id  strumpf 2  und  shoe. 

'  He  vas  shoost  like  Koenig  Etzel,  of  whom 

de  shdory  dell, 
Der  Hun  who  go  for 3  de  Romans  und  vollop 

dem  so  veil, 

lation,    in  contradistinction   to   the    'white   cent,'   made   of 
nickel. 

1  'Seele;'   Ger.  Soul, — upon  my  soul  ! 

2  'Strumpf;'   Ger.  Stocking. 

3  '  To  go  for,'  to  rush  at  with  the  fiercest  determination. 
Originated  by  Western  hunters  and  trappers,  who,  being 
robbed  by  Indians,  would,  emphatically,  '  go  for  '  them.  It 
is  also  used  by  American  politicians  in  the  sense  of  '  to  be  in 
favour  of,'  as  '  I  go  for  peace  with  England.' 


228  Hans  Breitmann  in  Politics. 

Only  dis,  dat  dey  say  no  crass  vouldt  crow 
vhere  Etzel's  horse  had  trot, 

Und  I  really  pelief  vere  Breitmann  go  de 
hops  shpring  in  de  shpot.'  * 

Iv  vunce  you  tie  a  dtog  loose,  dere  ish  more 

soon  geds  aroundt, 

Und  venn  dis  vas  shtartedt  on  Breitmann  id 

was  rings  herum 2  be-foundt ; 
Dough  vhy  he  moost  hafe  somedings  vas  nod 

by  no  means  glear, 

1  In  allusion,  of  course,  to  Breitmann's  love  of  Lager- 
beer.  The  Louisville  Journal  said  of  Southern  generals  slain 
in  battle,  that  their  places  of  interment  would  be  known  by 
the  corn  and  rye  growths,  consequent  upon  the  quantity  of 
whisky  they  had  drunk  ;  which  the  Neiv  York  Atlas  capped 
by  saying  that  the  whisky  was  so  bad  in  the  North,  that  the 
Union-generals'  burial-places  would  be  recognised  by  the 
blasting  of  the  vegetation  for  miles  around. 

2  All  round  about. 


Hans  Breitmann  in  Politics.  1 29 

Nor  tid  id,  like  Paulus'  confersion,  on  de  snap ' 
to  all  abbear ! 

Und,  in  facdt,   Belthazar  Bumchen   saidt  he 

couldtent  nicht 2  blainly  see 
Vy  a  veller  for  gadderin'  riches  shood  dus  re- 

vartedt  pe : 
Der  Breitmann  own  drei  Houser,  mit  a  wein- 

handler  in  a  stohr, 
Dazu  ein  Lager-Wirthschaft,3  und   sonst  wo 

— somedings  more. 


1  '  Schnapp  ;'  Ger.  A  slap,  or  snap,  hence  this  phrase  'at 
the  first  glance.' 

2  '  Nicht ;'  Ger.  Not,  a  double  negation  as  a  vulgar 
strengthening  of  the  emphasis. 

3  /.  e.,  '  Der  Breitmann  owns  drei  Hauser  mit  a  Wein- 
handler  in  a  store  (shop),  dazu  ein  Lager-Wirthschaft,  und 
sonst  wo,'  German -English  for  '  Breitmann  owns  three  houses, 

I 


1 30  Hans  Breitmann  in  Politics. 

Dis  plasted1  plackguard  none-sense  ve  couldn't 

py  no  means  shtand, 
From  a  narrow-mineted  shvine's  kopf,2  of  our 

nople  gaptain  crand  : 
Sooch  low,  goarse,  betty  bornirtheit 3  a  shentle- 

raan  deplores ; 

with  a  wine-shop,  together  with  a  Lagerbeer-house,  and  other 
property.' 

1  The  English  reader  will  have  very  little  difficulty  in  re- 
cognising this  familiar  piece  of  English  profanity.  It  is  not 
to  be  met  with  in  the  long  list  of  recognised  American  oaths, 
and  is  invariably  used  in  that  country  to  denote  that  a 
Britisher  is  present.  This,  and  a  still  more  sanguinary  ex- 
pression, are  generally  supposed  to  constitute  the  main  cha- 
racteristics of  Cockney  speech  ;  thus  Artemus  Ward  makes 
the  Colonel  of  the  Seventy  Onesters  in  Canada,  say:  — 
'  What  ?  Impossible  !  It  kannot  be !  Blarst  my  hize,  sir, 
did  I  understan  you  to  say  that  you  was  actooally  goin  into 
the  presents  of  his  Royal  Iniss  ?  ' 

5  Shwine's  kopf;  Ger.  Pig-headed  fellow. 

*  Bornirtheit,  an  equivalent  for  shallow-brained  contracted 
genius. 


Hans  Breitmann  in  Politics.  131 

So  ve  called  him  verflnchter  Hundsfoot?  und 
shmysed  2  him  out  of  toors. 

So  ve  all  dissolfed  3  dat  Breitmann  shouldt  haf 

a  nomination 
To  go  to  de  Legisladoor,4  to  make  some  dings 

off  de  nation ; 
Mit  de  helb  of  a  Connedigut5  man,  in  whom 

we  haf  great  hobes, 

1  'Verfluchter  Hundsfott,'  Ger.  a  dirty  miserable  scoundrel, 
a  rascal. 

2  '  Schmeissen  ;'  Ger.  To  fling,  altho'  histed  would  be 
the  American  vulgar  expression. 

3  Resolved.  The  Americans  are  continually  holding  meet- 
ings, political  or  otherwise,  at  which  the  various  '  Resolu- 
tions '  are  introduced  by  the  formula  :  —  'It  is  resolved 
that,'  &c. 

4  The  Legislature,  in  the  States  of  the  Republic,  is  the 
Lower  House  of  each  State,  or  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives, branch  of  the  Congress. 

4  A  Connecticut  man. 


132 


Hans  Breitmann  in  Politics. 


Who  hat  shange  his  boledics  fivdeen  dimes, 
und  derefore  knew  de  robes.1 

'  To  know  the  ropes,'  from  ship  language,  to  be  fully 
informed. 


II.  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  INSTRUCTION, 

"TAENN  for  our  Insdructions  Comedy  de 
ding  was  protocollirt 1 

By  Docktor  Emsig  Grubler,  who  in  Jena  vonce 
studiret  ; 2 

Und  for  Breitmann  his  insdrugtions  de  Co- 
medy tid  say 

Dat  de  All  out-going  from  de  Ones  vash  die 
first  Moral  Idee. 


'  Placed  upon  record 

1  'Studiren,'  Ger.  To  study. 


1 34  Hans  Breitmann  in  Politics. 

Und  de  segondt  crate  Moral  Idee  dat  into 
him  ve  rings 1 

Vas  dat  government  for  efery  man  moost 
alfays  do  efery  dings  ; 

Und  die  next  Idee  do  vitch  his  mindt  esbe- 
cially  ve  gall, 

Ish  to  do  mitout  a  Bresident  und  no  govern- 
ment ad  all. 

Und  die  fourt'  Idee  ve  vish  der  Hans  vouldt 

alfays  keeb  in  fiew 
Ish  to  cooldifate  die  Peaudifool,?  likevise   de 

Goot  und  Drue ; 


'  To  ring '  facts  into  a  person,  is  to  beat  them  into  him 
by  continual  application;  to  keep  '  ding-donging '  at  him  with 
such  persistency  that  he  must  take  notice. 

2  This  sounds  very  much  like  a  burlesque  of  the  grandi- 


Hans  Breitonann  hi  Politics.  i  -  5 

Und  de  form  of  dis  oopright-hood  in  proctise 

to  present, 
He  moosht  get  our  liddle  pills  all  bassed,  mit- 

out  id's  gostin'  a  cent. 

Und  der  fift'  Idee — ash  learnin'  ish  de  cratest 

ding  on  eart, 
Und  ash  Shoopider  der  Vater  to  Minerfa  gife 

ge-birt' ' — 
Ve  peg  dat  Breitmann  oonto  00s  all  pooplic 

tockuments 


loquent  title  of  N.  P.  Willis'  '  Home  Journal,  for  the  Culti- 
vation of  the  Beautiful  and  the  Sublime,''  In  America  many 
educated,  persons  are  very  fond  of  aiming  at  perfection  in 
life  ;  indeed,  communities  of  individuals  have  been  formed 
for  this  purpose,  but  the  societies,  to  use  a  colloquialism, 
invariably  '  come  to  grief '  after  a  short  duration. 
1  Geburt,  Ger.  Birth. 


1 36  Hans  Breitmann  in  Politics. 

Vich  he  can  grap  or  shteal  vill  sendt — franked  > 

— mit  his  gompliments. 
Die  sechste  crate  Moral  Idee — since  id  fery 

veil  ish  known 
Dat  mind   ish  de  resooldt  of  food,   ash   der 

Moleschott  has  shown,2 

1  'Franked,'  letters  and  packets  pass  free  through  the 
U.  S.  Post  Office  if  they  bear  the  mark,  seal,  or  token  of  a 
Member  of  Congress,  given  at  Washington,  while  Congress 
is  in  Session.  Hence  industrious  '  Congressers,' — as  the 
vulgar  term  these  gentlemen  in  office, — make  good  use  of  the 
privilege  in  keeping  their  constituents  well  supplied  with 
Congressional  documents, — similar  to  our  Blue  Books.  It  is 
very  doubtful  if  the  bulk  of  our  Government  publications  ever 
found  their  way  to  the  butter-shops — as  they  certainly  do 
now — if  Members  of  Parliament  were  allowed  to  circulate 
them  free  through  the  post  as  in  the  United  States.  It 
should  be  stated  that  as  the  office  of  local  postmaster  is 
a  Government  appointment  in  that  country,  this  official  is 
generally  one  of  the  most  active  politicians  for  his  party  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  his  office. 

2  Moleschott,  an  eminent  German  chemist,  at  present 
professor  at  Turin 


Hans  Breitmann  in  Politics.  137 

Und  ash  mind  ish  de  highest  form  of  Gott,  as 

in  Fichte  x  dot'  abbear — 
He  moost  alfays  go  mit  de  barty  dat  go  :  for 

lager-bier. 

Now  ash  all  dese  insdrugdions  vere  showed  to 

Misder  Twine, 
De  Yangee  boledician,  he  say  dey  vere  fery 

vine : 
Dey  vere  pesser  ash  goot,3  und  almosdt  nice  — 

'  a  tarnal  tall  consarn  ; ' 

1  The  works  of  Fichte  have  been  translated  and  pub- 
lished in  America  ;  and  it  is  said  that  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  Boston  there  are  many  converts  to  his  teachings. 

3  'To  go  for,'  to  be  in  favour  of,  an  Americanism  much 
affected  by  political  and  other  public  speakers,  thus  :— '  Will 
Mr.  Greeley  say  that  he  or  any  other  citizen  has  the  right  to 
oppose  "  the  country  ?"  We  say  go  for  your  country,  right  or 
w*ong  ! ' — Gospel  Banner. 

'Pesser    ash   goot,'   'better  than  good,'   a  form    of  ex- 


1 38  Hans  Breitmann  in  Politics. 

Boot  dey  haf  some  liddle  trawpacks,  und  in 
fagdt  weren't  worth  a  dern.1 

Boot  yed,  mit  our  bermission,  if  de  shentle- 

mans  allow — 
Here  all  der  Shermans  in  de  room  dake  off 

dere  hats  und  pow — 
He    vouldt   gif  our  honored  ganditate  some 

nodions  of  his  own, 
Hafing  managed   some   elegdions   mit  sook- 

cess,  as  veil  vas  known. 

Let  him  plow  id  all  his  own  vay,  he'd  pet  as 
sure  as  born, 


pression  as  general  amongst  the   Americans  mingling  with 
Germans,  as  amongst  the  latter  themselves. 

1  See   in   the  Biglmu  Papers,  how  the  Yankee   deludes 


Hans  Breitmann  in  Politics.  139 

Dat   our  mann  vouldt  not  coom  oud  of  der 

liddle  endt  der  horn,1 
Mft  his  good  proad  Sherman  shoulders — dis 

maket  00s  laugh,  py  shink  ! 
So  de  Comedy  shtart  for  Breitmann's — Nota 

bene — after  a  trink  !2 


himself  that  he  escapes  the  consequences  by  mispronouncing 
an  oath.     Very  amusing  are  these  attempts  to  cheat  the  Devil. 

1  Imagining  a  pigmy  imprisoned  in  a  cow's  horn,  he 
would  display  little  sense  by  trying  to  squeeze  himself  along 
out  by  the  tapering  extremity  in  preference  to  leaving  by  the 
expanding  way  to  the  large  mouth.  To  come  out  of  '  the 
little  end  of  the  horn '  is  a  common  Americanism  in  the  sense 
of  a  failure,  an  unfortunate  ending,  a  bad  speculation. 

2  Among  politicians,  very  little  is  done  in  America  un- 
less preluded  by  a  libation. 


III.   MR.    TWINE   EXPLAINS   BEING   'SOUND 
UPON   THE   GOOSE.'* 


T~\  ERE,  in  his  crate  corved  oaken  shtuhl  der 
Breitemann  sot  he : 


1  The  following  is  a  different  origin  of  the  phrase, 
'  Sound  upon  the  goose.'  One  of  the  U.  S.  flags  displays 
a  spread  eagle  in  the  union,  with  the  stripes  on  the  field, 
which  the  irreverent  have  likened  to  a  goose  broiling  on  a 
corner  of  a  gridiron.  Hence,  faithful  to  the  American  eagle, 
would  be  paraphrased  '  Sound  on  the  goose.' 

Bartlett,     in    his     '  Dictionary    of    Americanisms,'    says, 


1 42  Hans  Breitniann  in  Politics. 

He  lookt  shoost  like  de  shiant  in  gs  Kinder 

hishdorie ; 1 
Und  pefore  him  on  de  tische,  vas — vhere  man 

alfays  voundt  it — 


'  Goose.  "  To  be  sound  on  the  goose,"  or  "  aU  right  on  tJie 
goose,"  is  a  South-western  phrase,  meaning  to  be  orthodox 
on  the  slavery  question,  i.e.  pro-slavery.  Although  it  only 
got  into  general  use  during  the  recent  Kansas  troubles,  I  am 
not  able  to  give  its  origin.' 

'  The  border  ruffians  held  a  secret  meeting  in  Leaven- 
'  worth,  and  appointed  themselves  a  vigilance  committee. 
'  All  persons  who  could  not  answer  "All  right  on  the  goose," 
'  according  to  their  definition  of  right,  were  searched,  kept 
'  under  guard,  and  threatened  with  death.  '—Mrs.  Robinson's 
Kansas,  p.  252. 

A  poetical  writer  in  the  '  Providence  Journal,'  in  speaking 
of  the  claims  of  a  candidate  for  the  office  of  Mayor,  says  : — 

'  To  seek  for  political  flaws  is  no  use, 
His  opponents  will  find  he  is  sound  on  the  goose. 

June  18,  1857. 

1   '  Kinder-historie  : '  Ger.     Children's  story-books. 


Hans  Breitmann  in  Politics.  143 

Dwelf   inges   of  goot  lager,  mit   a    Boemisch 
glass  1    aroundt  it. 

De  foorst  vordt  dat  der  Breitmann  shpoke  he 

maked  no  sbeech  or  sign  : 
De  nexd  remark  vas,  '  Zapfet  aus  /'*   de  dird 

vas,  '  Schenket  ein  /'2 
Vhen  in  coomed  liddle  Gottlieb  und  Trina  mit 

a  shtock 
Of  allerbeste  Markgraefier  wein — dazu  dwelf 

glaeser  Bock.3 


•  A  Bohemian  glass. 

2  'Zapfen  aus,'  Ger.  Tap  the  cask;  and  'Schenken  ein,' 
'  Pour  into  the  glasses.'  The  Germans  put  a  whole  cask  on 
the  table ;  tap  it  (anzapfen) — then  fill  the  glasses  (schenken 
ein),  and  then  drink. 

3  '  The  very  best  Markgraefier  wine,  with  a  dozen  glasses 
of  Bock  bier  (Buck  beer,  a  favourite  brewing). 


144  Hans  Breitmann  in  Politics. 

Denn  Misder  Twine  deglare  dat  he  vash  happy 

to  denounce 
Dat   as   Copdain   Breitmann   suited   oos   eg- 

sockdly  do  an  ounce, 
He   vas   ged   de   nomination,  and   need   nod 

more  eckshblain : 
Der  Breitmann  dink  in  silence  and  denn  roar 

aloudt,  CHAMPAGNE !  * 

Den  Mishder  Twine,  while  trinken  wein,  mit- 

whiles  vent  on  do  say, 
Dat  long  insdruckdions  in  dis  age  vere  nod  de 

dime  of  tay ; 
Und  de  only  ding  der  Breitmann  need  to  pe 

of  any  use 

1  The  Americans  were  early  in  taking  up  the  Paris  '  fest ' 
fashion  of  '  champagning  '  on  grand  occasions. 


Hans  Breitmann  in  Politics.  14$ 

Vas  shoost  to  dell  to  efery  mans  he's  soundt 
oopon  der  coose. 

Und  ash  dis  liddle  frase  berhops  vas  nod  do 

00s  bekannt,1 
He  dakes  de  liberdy  to   make  dat  ve   shall 

oondershtandt,2 
Und  vouldt  dell  a  leedle  shdory  vitch  dook 

blace  pefore  de  Vars  : 
Here  der  Breitmann  nod  to  Trina,   und  she 

bass  aroundt  cigars. 

'  Id  ish  a  longe  dime,  now  here,  in  Bennsyl- 
fanian's  Shtate, 


1  Known. 

1  Ger.  Verstehen,  to  understand ;  unterstehen,  to  dare. 
Many  Germans  in  England  and  America  mix  the  two  words, 
under  (Engl.),  stehen  (Ger.);  verstanden  (participle). 

K 


1 46  Hans  Breitmann  in  Politics. 

All  in  der  down  of  Horrisburg1  dere  rosed  a 

vierce  depate, 
'Tween  vamilies  mit  gooses,  und  dose  vhere 

none  vere  foundt — 
If  gooses  might,  by  common  law,  go  squan- 

derin'  aroundt  ? 

'  Dose  who  vere  nod  pe-gifted  mit  gooses,  und 

vere  poor, 
All  shvear  de  law  forbid  dis  crime,  py  shings 

und  cerdain  sure ; 
But  de  goose-holders  teklare  a  goose  greadt 

liberdy  tid  need, 


Harrisburgh,  the  capital  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
the  seat  of  the  State  Legislature,  is  situated  about  100  miles 
N.  W.  of  Philadelphia. 


Hans  Breitmann  in  Politics.  147 

Und  to  pen  dem  oop  vas  gruel,  und  a  mosdt 
oon- Christian  teed. 


'  Und  denn   anoder  barty  idself  tid  soon  re- 

feal, 
Of  arisdograts  who  kepd  no   coose,  pecause 

'tvas  not  shendeel : 
Tey  tid  not  vish  de  splodderin  geese  shouldt 

on  deir  pafemends  1  bass, 
So  dey  shoined  de  anti-goosers,  or  de  oonder 

lower  glass  !'* 


1  The  pavement  in  America  is  the  gravel,  or  other  kind 
of  footway  before  the  doors  of  dwelling-houses. 

3  Breitmann's  Yankee  friend  seems  to  have  got  bewildered 
in  the  writings  of  some  recent  English  political  econo- 
mists who  delight  in  explanations  of  the  lower-middle  class, 
with  such  variations  as  the  '  higher-middle,'  the  '  middle- 
lower,'  the  '  higher-lower,'  &c  &c. 


148  Hans  Breitmann  in  Politics. 

Here  Breitmann  led  his  schdeam  1  out :  'Dis 

shdory  goes  to  show 
Dat  in  poledicks,  ash  lager,  virtus  in  medic. 
De  drecks  ish  ad  de  pottom — de  skoom  floads 

high  inteed ; 
Boot  daas  bier  ish  in  de  mittle,  says  an  goot 

old  Sherman  lied.8 

'  Und  shoost  apout  elegdion-dimes  de  scoom 

und  drecks,  ve  see, 
Have  a  pully i  Wahl-verwandtschaft,4  or  elec- 

tion-sympathie.' 

'To  let  one's  steam  out,'  in  the  sense  of  giving  vent  to 
one's  feelings  or  opinions,  is  a  phrase  quite  as  common  in 
America  as  it  is  here. 

3  'Lied,'  Ger.  Song,  hymn. 

3  '  Bully,'  fine,  large,  powerful ;  an  Americanism  explained 
at  pages  24  and  64  of  the  First  Part  of  this  work. 

*  Coming  together  by  a  common  liking, — in  other  words, 


Hans  Breitmann  in  Politics.  149 

'  Dis  ish  very  vine,'  says  Misder  Twine,  '  vot 

here  you  indrotuce  : 
Mit   your   bermission    I'll   grack  on  mit  my 

shdory  of  de  coose. 

'A  gandertate  for  sheriff  de  coose-beholders 

run, 
Who  shvear  de  coose  de  noblest    dings  vot 

valk  peneat'  de  sun  ; 
For  de  cooses  safe  de  Capidol  in  Rome  long 

dimes  ago, 
Und  Horrisburg  need  safin'  mighty  pad,  ash 

all  do  know.1 


a  family  gathering   or   meeting,   voting  for  one's  own  kin- 
dred.       Elective  affinity. 

1  Harrisburgh,  as  the  seat  of  the   State  Legislature,   en- 
joys a  not  very  enviable  reputation  in  the  newspapers  pub- 


150  Hans  Breitmann  in  Politics. 

'  Acainsd  dis  mighdy  Goose-man  anoder  veller 

rose 
Who  keepedt  himself  ungommon  shtill  ven 

oders  gome  to  plows ; 
Und   if  any   ax    how  'tvas   he   shtoodt,  his 

vriends  vould  vink  so  loose, 
Und  visper  ash  dey  dapped  deir  nose  :  '  He's 

soundt  oopon  de  coose  ! 

'  He's  O.  K. 1  oopon  de  soobject :    shoost  pet 

lulled  in  other  parts  of  Pennsylvania.  The  terms  '  Jobbery ' 
and  '  Corruption  '  are  almost  as  well  known  there  as  in 
Washington. 

1  '  O.  K.'  had  its  origin  in  the  following  circumstances. 
Previous  to  a  Presidential  Election,  the  political  parties  in 
large  towns  have  processions  to  parade  their  strength.  In 
New  York,  about  the  year  1845,  one  district  was  distin- 
guished by  a  banner  bearing  this  strange  device  :  '  The 
Fourth  Ward,  O.  K. '  Next  day  everybody  who  had  seen 
the  sight  neglected  business  to  compare  notes  with  others  as 


Hans  Breitmann  in  Politics,  1 5 1 

your  pile  ]  on  dat : 
On  dis  bartik'ler  quesdion  he  indends  to  coot 
it  fat.' 

to  its  signification.  At  last,  the  public  bewilderment  rose  to 
such  a  height  that  one  individual,  more  curious  than  the  rest, 
resolved  to  beard  the  author-sphynx  in  her  den.  He  went  to 
the  secretary  of  '  the  4th  Ward  Democratic  Committee,'  who, 
surprised  at  such  ignorance,  loftily  exclaimed :  '  The  Old 
Fourth  having  got  tired  of  stale  mottoes,  has  for  novelty's 
sake,  adopted  a  commercial  one  from  our  leading  merchants. 
Don't  they  say,  when  they  would  affirm  that  a  clerk  can  be 
implicitly  relied  upon  to  produce  a  balance  on  the  right  side 
"  Oll  Korrect  !  "  '  The  banner-painter  acted  up  to  his  in- 
structions in  the  way  we  have  seen. 

In  1868,  'the  Great  Vance'1  attached 'O.  K.'to  the  chorus 
of  his  so  called  '  great '  song  '  Walking  in  the  Zoo, '  and  thus 
London  is  delighted  by  an  obscure  New  Yorker's  ignorance  ; 
— '  great  0.  Jf.'s  from  little  acorns  grow.' 

It  is  a  curious  fact  that  the  telegraph  clerks  in  England 
and  America  employ  the  letters  '  O.  K.,'  when  they  send  a 
telegram  that  a  message  has  been  received  Oll  Korrect. 

1  Formerly  '  To  bet  one's  pile, '  was  to  stake  all  the  gold 
and  notes  heaped  up  before  a  gambler  on  the  table  ;  now  the 
phrase  means  to  stake  one's  entire  wealth, 


IS2  Hins  Breitmann  in  Politics. 

So  de  veller   cot  elegtded  pefore   de  beople 

foundt 
On  vitch  site  of  der  coose  it  vas  he  shtick  so 

awful  soundt. 

'  Dis  shdory's  all  I  haf  to  dell,'  says  Misder 

Hiram  Twine  ; 
'  Und   I    advise    Herr    Breitmann    shoost  to 

vight  id  on  dis  line.'  ' 
De  volk  who  of  dese  boledics  would  oder  shap- 

ders  read, 
Moost  waiten  for  de  segondt  pardt  of  dis  here 

Breitmann's  Lied. 

1  President  Grant.      '  We  will  fight  it  out  on  this  line  if  it 
takes  all  summer.' 


Piet  Breitmann  in  Cincinnati.  1 5  3 


PIET    BREITMANN    IN 
CINCINNATI. 

[Note.  Already  Hans  Breitmann's  popularity  has  pro- 
duced imitations.  Th  t  following  comes  from  the  West,  and  is 
supposed  to  be  tne  production  of  his  son  Peter,  who  has  emi- 
grated as  far  as  Cincinnati  to  open  a  Lager-Beer  '  Saloon. ' 
If  Peter's  liquor  was  no  better  than  his  verse,  the  '  bhoys '  who 
sacked  the  establishment  ought  all  to  have  been  pardotsd  to  a 
man.     He  is  a  poor  hand  at  rhyming  after  his  father.  ] 

piET1  BREITMANN  Zinzinnatty, 

Mooch  honored  mit  his  schoise, 
Ven  he  oopened  dere  a  pier-saloon, 
To  show  Gambrinus'  joys,  * 

1  '  Pete,'  for  Peter  :  German. 

2  '  Gambrinus '  is  the  German  Roi  d' Yvetot,  the  patron 
of  beer-drinkers  :  usually  represented  as  a  jolly,  round-bellied, 
middle-aged  king,  in  the  dress  of  1300,  or  so,  astride  of  a 
beer -keg,  and  lifting  a  frothing  beer-mug. 


1 54         Piet  Breitmann  in  Cincinnati. 

Und  I  dell  him  mit  a  letter 

To  let  us  vellers  hear 
How  de  poy  vas  gettin'  on, 

Und  gettin'  off  de  pier. 

Hochst :  glad  to  see  Hans'  schreibart  * 

Like  ash  your  beshtesht  schwanke  !J 
I  dips  mein  quill  in  lager, 

Mein  Vater/  for  my  danke  ! 
Dey's  nice  poys  in  dish  city, 

For,  ven  I  opened  toor, 
Dey  roosh  in  py  de  tozens 

Mit  halloh  und  hurrah  ! 


1  Highly,  greatly.  2  Writing. 

3  Merry  tale.      The  Breitmann  family  were  beginning  to 
be  proud  of  the  head's  literary  celebrity. 

4  My  father. 


Piet  Breitmann  in  Cincinnati.  155 

Und  ven  I  say,  '  who  makes  de  pay 

For  dis  crand  cellarbrate  ? ' 
By  tarn,  dey  say,  und  vink  at  me  : 

'  You  puts  him  on  de  schlate  I'1 

I  dells  'em  I  don't  keep  schiefer, 2 
Ven  dey  lift  deir  haar,  undt  gry  : 

'  Here,  Yakey,  dake  my  beafer  ! 3 
Send  out  a  schlate  to  puy !' 

I  like  to  aggommodate 

(Dere  'sh  no  brincipal  in  dese  tings  !),  * 

1  Scores,  to  be  easily  removed  when  paid,  are  written  on 
slates,  hung  in  American  country,  and  even  city,  taverns. 

2  '  Schiefer  :'  Ger.     Slate. 

3  'Yakey,'  familiarly  for  Jacob  :  Jacob  being  for  Germans 
in  America  what  John  is  for  Chinamen  in  California,  or  for 
Englishmen  in  the  Crimea  to  the  Turkish  allies.  '  Take  my 
beaver '  for  '  take  my  hat.' 

*  A  German  liquor-dealer  of  Cincinnati  failed  to  recover 


156        Piet  Breitmann  in  Cincinnati. 

So  I  puys  a  schlate,  more  proad  like  a  schkate 
Und  puts  down  all  de  gals x  prings. 


Recht  quick  de  schlate  alretty 

Pees  full,  geheim  be-pressed,  • 
Und  dey  dells  me  I,  te  petter 

'  Vill  my  tam  Tootch  het  mit  de  rest !' 

Pooty  bimeby  in  a  leedle 

damages  on  suing  some  riotous  customers,  as  his  evidenct 
could  not  make  the  court  distinguish  the  ringleader.  Th< 
Justice  of  the  Peace  remarked  that  it  was  hard  on  the  publi 
cans,  as  it  seemed  to  be  a  rule  that  no  principal,  or  instigator 
in  these  bar-room  brawls  could  ever  be  singled  out.  Th< 
prosecutor,  afraid  of  the  rowdies'  vengeance,  prudently  (evei 
in  his  letter  to  Hans  Breitmann)  sweetens  his  complaint  witl 
declarations  that  his  boisterous  guests  were  '  nice  boys '  never 
theless. 

1  Peter  had  waitresses  to  serve  his  patrons,  as  is  the  usua 
custom  in  beer-gardens. 

3  '  Closely  pressed, '  the  figures  he  had  to  put  down. 


Piet  Breitmann  in  Cincinnati.  157 

Dey  makes  smash  ! — mein  bar  gits  vits !' 
Trinks  mein  pottles  unt  knockt  der  teufel 

Out  mein  spiegel  mit  ice-spitz'  !2 
How  I  vash  mad  !  I  'd  radder 

Haf  so  mooch  ash  I  vash  mad 
(Put  dere  'sh  no  brincipal  in  dese  tings  !) — 

Dey'se  nice  poys,  efery  lad. 

Dey  called  me  tarn  Tootch  hiker;3 
I  shtand  in  silent  gontempt, 

1  '  To  give  fits,'  Am.,  is  to  produce  that  state  in  the  victim 
which  will  make  him  apparently  have  been  under  the  effects 
of  strong  convulsions  ;  to  utterly  '  use  him  up. ' 

2  '  Spiegel :'  Ger.  Mirror.  Ice-spitze  :  the  ice-pick,  which, 
in  bar-rooms,  is  a  necessary  tool  in  summer,  where  refrigerating 
beverages  are  in  full  demand. 

3  '  Hiker,'  a  word  popular  among  the  lower  orders  for  a 
German,  the  Dutch  being,  as  in  this  case,  superfluous  ;  it  is 
merely  an  English  corruption  of  '  haken  :'  Ger.  A  hook. 
The  rag-pickers  of  New  York  and  other  eastern  sea-ports,  are 


158  Piet  Breitmann  in  Cincinnati. 

Und  shouted,  'Bolice  !'  ven  de  barty, 

Like  de  tream  Heir  Faustus  treamt, 
Raced  1  my  gals  oop  der  staircase, 

Frow'd  de  winder  clean  throo  dem  outdoors! 
Oopset  der  shtove  oopon  der  zink,2 

Und  it  burnt  right  throo  der  floors  ! 
But  dey  say  dis  is  Geschaft, 3 

Dere  's  no  brincipal  here  ! 


mostly  Germans ;  their  only  implement  is  an  iron  hook  ;  hence, 
they  are  'hookers.'  Therefore  'hooker,'  or  '  hiker,'  becomes 
a  generic  title  of  contempt  for  the  whole  German- American 
population.  Our  English  'to  hook,'  'to  steal,'  comes  from 
this  implement  in  the  hands  of  beggars  and  sturdy  vagabonds 
of  Henry  the  Eighth's  time. 

1  'To  race,'  active:  as  'to  walk  a  horse;'  'to  lead  or 
drive  a  horse  out  at  a  walking  pace.' 

s  The  stove  being  set  in  the  room  itself,  the  wooden 
flooring  would  take  fire  if  not  shielded,  which  is  done  by  a 
sheet  of  tin,  or  zinc. 

3  'Geschaft,'  business.     This  damage  to  Peter  was  'all  in 


Piet  Breitmann  in  Cincinnati.  159 

Dey  pees  nice  poys — but  warum — 

Wherevor  vater  mein  pier  ? 
Vat  vor  tid  dey  vill  mit  nails 

My  match-pox  on  der  shelf, 
Und  ven  dey  plowedt  der  gas  out, 

It  vash  der  Teufel's  self; 
Vor,  drying  to  light,  I  schraped 

Die  paint,  und  de  tables  wreckedt, 
Und  schrammt x  holes  in  der  nachtbar's  wall, 

He  threaten  process-rechte  \- 
Dish  ish  nicht  der  Stil,3  you  look  ! 

Dere  's  some  brincipal  in  dese  tings  ! 


the  way  of  his  business,'  since  the  publican  must  expect 
drunken  frolics. 

1  '  Schrammen,'  to  scratch. 

s  An  action  at  law. 

3  In  1869,  a  song  of  the  music-halls  has  again  revived 
'  That 's  the  Style  '  as  a  popular  saying,  or  cry,  of  the  streets. 


160         Piet  Breitmann  in  Cincinnati. 

I  schlachte1  mein  schlate,  und  I  gifs 
No  TICK  nimmermehr,2  by  shings  ! 


1    Schlachten,    to   butcher ;    he    smashed   the    slate,    he 
slaughtered  it,  in  the  midst  of  his  excitement. 
1  Nevermore. 


EBINTED  BX  W.  W.  FT'*'"  AND  MAKE,  FLEET  LANE,  OLD  BAILEX,  E.O. 

2. 


A  MOST  USEFUL  and  VALUABLE 
FAMILY  MEDICINE. 


Havo  been  extensively  usetl  by  the  Public,  and  hare  provod  an 
Invaluable  Remedy 

DURING  THE  LAST  HALF-CENTURY, 

Restoring  to  Sound  Health  Thousands  of  Persons  who  in  many 
cases  had  begun  to  despair. 
For  the  first  year  or  two  of  the  above  period  these  Pills  were  but 
little  known,  yet  so  satisfactory  were  their  results  in  allaying  various 
disorders,  that  in  a  short  space  of  time  they  became  Very  generally 
adopted,  and  are  now  universally  esteemed  as  a  great  boon. 

Great  numbers  bear  testimony  to  the  benefit  derired  from 
these  Pills  in  all  instances  of  SICK  HEADACHE  and  Disorders 
of  the  HEAD,  CHEST,  BOWELS,  LIVER,  and  KIDNEYS; 
also  in  RHEUMATISM,  ULCERS,  SORES,  and  SKIN 
DISEASES,  they  being  a. direct  Purifier  of  tho  Blood. 

ALSO 

WHELPTON'S 

VEGETABLE  STOMACH  PILLS 

Are  particularly    suited  to  Weakly  Persons,  being   exceedingly 

mild  and  gradual  in  their  operation,  imparting  tone  and 

vigour  to  their  Digestive  Organs. 


Sold  in  Boxes,  price  TJd.,  Is.  lid.,  and  gs.  »d. ,  by  G.  WHELPTON 

and  SON,  3,  Crane  Court,  Fleet  Street,  London,  and  all  Chemists 

and  Medicine  Vendors  at  home  and  abroad.     Sent  free  by  post  in 

the  United  Kingdom  for  8,  14,  or  S3  stamps. 


SYRUP  of  PHOSPHORUS 


NATUEE'S  GBEAT  BEALN  and  HEEVE  TONIO, 

i.nd  the  most  wonderful  Blood  Purifier  ever  discovered;  cleanses  the  mos 
vitiated  system,  and 

SUPPLIES   NEW  AND   RICH  PURE  BLOOD. 


INDIGESTION, 

Constipation,   Loss  of    Energy,    Mental    Depression, 

Especially 'when  caused  by  excessive  brain  work  in  general,  are  quickly  and 
permanently  relieved  by  a  few  doses  of 

FREEMAN'S  SYRUP  OF  PHOSPHORUS. 

Highly  and  confidently  recommended 
So  all,  who  are  Engaged-  in  Excessive  Brain  Worii 


Bold  In  Bottles  at  2s.  9d.,  4s.  6d.,  lis.  and  33s.  each,  by-Chemists  and 
Patent  Medicine  Dealers. 

SftecialAgcnts :  GOO  PALL,  BACKHOUSE  &  Co.,  Leeds>. 
For-  a  Hundred  Excellent  and  Palatable 

HOUSEHOLD    RECIPES, 

WIBTB  TO 

Messrs;  GOQDALL,  BACKHOUSE  &  GO.,  LEEDS, 

Enclosing  a  penny- stamp:  for  postage*  when  you.  wilt  be  presented  with  a 
Valuable  Book  of  J04  pages,  bound  in  cloth  and  fully  Illustrated,  called 

"  GOOD    TZHZHsTO-S \" 

Made,  Said,  and  Done,  for  Ever;  Home  and  Household. 

YORKSHIRE    RELISH. 

TMMoat  DeluriwtSmce  in  the  TFiw&fc 

Chte cheap  and  cweeilejrtiSaufiSjaaJBes:  the-  plainest  viaed*. palatable*  and  the 

daintiest  diahes>Ktt>re  delicious;    To  Chop*,  Steaks*  Efih,  *t,  it  is ; 

incomparable*    InBoitles.  at  6d;,  l»i>  and<3B.  each. 

Of  all  Grocers.  Chemists.  Patent  Medicine  Dealers,  and  Oilmen. 


A  WONDERFUL   MEDICINE. 

BEECHAM'S    PILLS 

Are  admitted  by  thousands  to  be  worth  above  a  Guinea  a  Box 
for  Bilious -and  Nervous  Disorders,  such  as  Wind  and  Pain  in 
the  Stomach,  Sick  Headache,  Giddiness,  Fulness  and  Swelling 
after  Meals,  Dizziness  and  Drowsiness,  Cold  Chills,  Flushings 
of  Heat,  Loss  of  Appetite,  Shortness  of  Breath,  Costiveness, 
Scurvy,  Blotches  on  the  Skin,  Disturbed  Sleep,  Frightful 
Dreams,  and  all  Nervous  and  Trembling  Sensations,  &c. 

The  first  dose  will  give  relief  in  twenty  minutes.  This  is  no 
fiction,  for  they  have  done  it  in  thousands  of  cases.  Every 
sufferer  is  earnestly  invited  to  try  one  box  of  these  Pills,  and 
they  will  be  acknowledged  to  be 

WORTH    A    GUINEA    A    BOX. 

For  Females  of  all  ages  thesePills  are  invaluable,  as  a  few  doses 
of  them  carry  off  all  gross  humours,  open  all  obstructions,  and 
bring  about  all  that  is  required.  No  female  should  be  without 
them.  There  is  no  medicine  to  be  found  to  equal  BEECHAM'S 
PILLS  for  removing  any  obstruction  or  irregularity  of  the  sys- 
tem. If  taken  according  to  the  directions  given  with  each  box,they 
will  soon  restore  females  of  all  ages  to  sound  and  robust  health. 

For  a  weak  stomach,  impaired  digestion,  and  all  disorders  of 
the  liver  they  act  like  "  MAGIC,"  and  a  few  doses  will  be  found 
to  work  wonders  upon  the  most  important  organs  of  the  human 
machine.  They  strengthen  the  whole,  muscular  system,  restore 
the  long-lost  complexion,  bring  back  the  keen  edge  of  appetite, 
and  arouse  into  action,  with  the  Rosebud  of  Health,  the  whole 
physical  energy  of  the  human  frame.  These  are  "  FACTS  "  ad- 
mitted by  thousands,  embracing  all  classes  of  society,  and  one  of 
the  best  guarantees  to  the  Nervous  and  Debilitated  is,  Bbecham's 
Pills  have  the  largest  sale  of  any  patent  medicine  in  the  world. 

BEECHAM'S    MAGIC    COUGH    PILLS. 

As  a  remedy  for  Coughs  in  general,  Asthma,  difficulty  of 
breathing,  shortness  of  breath,  tightness  and  oppression  of  the 
chest,  wheezing,  &c,  these  Pills  stand  unrivalled.  They  speedily 
remove  that  sense  of  oppression  and  difficulty  of  breathing 
which  nightly  deprive  the  patient  of  rest.  Let  any  person  give 
Beecham's  Cough  Pills  a  trial,  and  the  most  violent  cough  will 
in  a  short  time  be  removed. 

Caution. — The  public  are  requested  to  notice  that  the  words 
"  Beecham's  Pills,  St.  Helen's,"  are  on  the  Government  Stamp 
affixed  to  each  box  of  Pills.    If  not  on,  they  are  a  forgery. 

Prepared  only  and  sold  wholesale  and  retail  by  the  proprietor, 
T.  Bbecham,  Chemist,  St.  Helen's,  Lancashire,  in  boxes  at 
Is.  lid.  and  2s.  9d.  each.  Sent  post  free  from  the  proprietor 
for  1*5  or  30  stamps.  Sold  by  all  Druggists  and  Patent  Medicine 
Dealers  in  the  Kingdom. 

N.B. — Full  directions  are  given  with  each  box. 


FJENNTNGS'  EVEET  MOTHER'S  BOOK  sent  post  free  on  applica- 
tion by  letter  or  post-card.  Direct  Altred  Fecmngs,  West  Cowes,  I.W. 


COUGHS,  COLDS,  BRONCHITIS. 


FENNINGS' 


LUNCHEALERSi 


Q 

LU 

DC 

D 

(,)       THE    BEST    REMEDY    TO  CURE  ALL 

OT  COUGHS,  COLDS,  ASTHMAS,  &c. 

~~  Sold  in  Boxes  at  is.  lid.  and  as.  yd. 
■  with  directions.  Sent  post  free  for  is 
"T  stamps.  Direct  to  A.  FeNNiNGS.West 
ft  Cowes,  I.W. 

2J*  The  largest  size  Boxes,  2s.  od.  (35 
Z  stamps  post  free),  contain  three  times 
Q  the  quantity  of  the  small  boxes. 
rr  Read  FENNIMGS  EVERY- 
ir  BODY'S  DOCTOR.  Sent  post  free, 
Qj  13  stamps.  Direct  A.  FeNNiNGS,West 
Cowes,  l.W. 


DO  NOT  LET  YOUR  CHILD  DIE! 


1- 

UJ 

UJ 

H 

ui 
U. 
< 
CO 


Fennings'  Children's  Powders  Prevent 
Convulsions. 

AKE   COOLING  AND   SOOTHING.  HI 

FENNINGS'  £ 

CHILDREN'S   POWDERS < 

For  Childret!  Cutting  their  Teeth. 

To  prev.:ut  Convulsions.  _| 

(Do  not  coi.tain  Calomel,  Opium,  rjj 
Morphia,  nor  anything  injurious  to  a  U 
tender  babe.)  Sold  in  Stamped  Boxes  Hj 
at  is.  i^J.  and  2S1  od.  (great  saving),  H 
with  full  directions.  Sent  post  free  J 
for  15  stamps.     Direct  to  — 

Alfred  Fennings, West  Cowes,!.  W.  ~? 

Read    FENNINGS"    EVE!".Yr 
MOTHER'S     BOOK,    which    con-V' 
tains     valuable     hints     on    Feeding, 
Teething,    Weaning,     Sleeping,    fkc. 
Ask  your  Chemist  for  a  FREE  copy. 


to     lu        DO     NOT     UNTIMELY     DIE! 

U,       CO  Sore  Throats  Cured  with  One  Dose, 


€0i 


Q  1 

CC   1 

o 


FENNINCS'FEVOGURERS  S 


CO 


BOWEL.   COMPLAINTS    Cured  with   one   Dose. 
TYPHUS  or  Low  Fever  Cured  with  Two  Doses. 
DIPHTHERIA  Cured  with  Three  Doses. 
SCARLET  FEVER  cured  with  Four  Doses. 
DYSENTERY    Cured  with  Five  Doses, 
Sola"  in  Bottles  at  \s.  x\a\  each,  with  full  directions,  by  all 
Chemists.    Read  FENNINGS'  EVERYBODY'S  DOCTOR. 
Sent  post  free  for  13  stamps. 

Direct  A.  Fennings,  West  Cowes,  I.W. 


O 

m  o  sc 


eo    — 
m    c/ 

— 


z 

X 

I- 
LU 
HI 

r- 

>■ 
CO 
< 
UJ 


'Suiqiaaj^  'Surpass  uo  siuiuj  aiqeupe* 

sureiuooHDitr^^ooa  &iaH.iow 

AH3A3    .SOMIMMSi    PraH 
"AVI  'ssaicq  jsa^'sOMiNNaj  asiMjiy 
oj  133JIQ     "sdurejs  Si  joj 

S3-tj    JSOd    JUe>g        *SUOIlD9JI[>    [[Ujf     qil.w 

'(SuiABS  ?B3iS)  'p6 -ss  ptre~pfi  *si  \k 
saxo'g  padiueis  ui  p[og  ( vM^q  i^paai 
v  0%  snounfui  Suiiii\ire  joi.i  *eii{diop^ 
'tumdQ    'putopr~)    uiejuoa    iou    ©Q) 

■SUOlSJOAUOf)  !U3A9Jd  OJ^ 

SU30M0d    SN3aai!HQ 

<SDNINN3d 

•DMEHXOOS   OMV    DMIIOOD  38V 

-suctS[nA!io3 


co 
> 
-n 
m 

H 
m 
m 

H 
I 

Z 
O 


•AVT  's»*op 
)S3av'soninn3j  •yjosJiQ  "sdureis  £i 
asyisodjusg  HO.LOOa  S<AaOa 
-AH3A3       .SONINN^IJ      PEsa 

■saxoq  hbuis  sui  jo  A.ituenb  sip 

S3U111    39.111)   UIBJU03  '(asj,i  J50''  'dlUBJS 

S£)  ;p6  -sz  'ssxog  azis  jsaSiBi  3i(x 
-M'I  'ss«03 

]S9^'S0NINN3J  'V  O)  13WICI     •SdlUBJS 

Si  ioj  331}  isod  iu3g     •suorjawip  u.»i*.  | 
■p6  -sz  pue  -pf  i  -si  }B  saxog  in  p(os     ! 

•a?  'SVWH1SV  'soioo  'SHonoo* 

•nv  aana  ox  Aaawaa  xsaa  ihx 

S«31V3H0Hm 

S0NINN3J 


I3IQ    011H0   MflOA  131  ION  00  S1X.H3NOHH    sanoj  SH3no> 

7Vx"I  'soAtoo  %B3JXl  'eaaxauo^  pajjrV"  »oa Jicr  •p^'wo-^sod  jo  aaj^l  -iq  noi 
estiddc  no  99.li  isod  •j.aas  JOOS  SHHHiOW  iHSAa  .SOJSIflliai